[C320-list] Ideas on engine side electrical problem?

[Troy Dunn]

If the wire is corroded I would not attempt to clean it.   If you have
identified which termination is smoking, then the best/preferred solution
is to cut off the existing crimp terminal, cut off and strip enough wire to
get back to nice clean shiny copper (if the metal is black or green, cut
back more).   It’s usually only an inch or so, hopefully you have enough
slack.  Reterminate with heat shrink connectors.    If you don't have
enough slack you can use a heat shrink butt connector to extend your wire,
or alternatively you could figure out the wiring diagram for your engine
harness and install a new wire of equal or larger gauge with proper
terminations.   If you go the rewire route and you are sure of the
termination points on both ends then you can simply cut the wire at both
ends and use cable ties to secure the new wire to the harness....you don’t
have to tear apart your harness to fix one wire/termination.    An OEM
harness replacement is probably not necessary, and usually isn’t cheap.

If the screw or blade that your wire terminates on has some corrosion, that
is something you can clean up with a bit of light sanding or brass brush in
a Dremel.   Don't go crazy, just get it shiny again.

Good luck

Troy Dunn
Hull#514