firecraker popping engine noise 1986 190d

[my85]

i am new to this so thank for any replies. i have a 1985 190d 2.2
when i start the car there is a loud popping firecracker noise and spark that happens on the top of the engine. it is where a wire is attached to a nut on the top of the engine. it pops and sparks, pops and sparks, very loud and smokes alot. what is happening, is there afix?
thanks for any replies.

[bgkast]

I think we'll need a picture for this one...

[jaoneill]

There is always a fix! Sounds as though you have a dead short, probably in that part of the harness that contains the glow plug wiring. My guess is that it has melted insulation off several of the wires in the cluster. Pick that section up and get a look at it all around. Cut the burned/melted section of the loom apart to determine the extent of the problem and then repair the wires as necessary. Be certain to use like sized wire for any replacement and insulated connectors for your splices. I usually use heat shrink tube over splices to keep any water out.

Good luck,
Jim

[jaoneill]

Should have read the original post more closely. I could be wrong (certainly wouldn't be the first time) but I believe that the only wire terminated at the top of the engine is a ground connected to the intake manifold just behind the fuel filter. It comes out of the wire cluster that I referenced in my previous post. Check over carefully as I mentioned before.

Jim