Well thanks for all the condolences. :-/
I told the insurance what happened and they said I would lose 2 of my 5 years no claims if I claim for it. that would bump my premium up to over £3000 living here. For a payout of £300 if I'm lucky, I'm better off not claiming salvaging what parts I can from it otherwise I will not be able to afford to get another car with premiums like that. Most of the engine and exterior are still good as are the wheels and exhaust. So Im hoping I could get a couple of hundred for those.
Just out of interest, is this power sounder problem shared with other vauxhalls or just the omega?
Common across most of the Vx range.
I have seen 3 different types used on Omegas. Not sure spontaneous combustion is a speciality of any particular model though.
The problem as I see it, is that the supply wiring to the power sounder is not adequately protected against a fault. The wires to the power sounder are tiny (no problem there. It takes about a quarter of an amp, and the wires are probably safe up to a few amps).
The problem is, this puny wiring is protected only by an 80 amp fusible link in the positive distribution box, and nothing on earlier cars without the box.
I suspect this is why the dash tends to go up too. Wiring is damaged through the loom until it reaches an adequately rated feed, probably by the fuse box.
Why, oh why didn't GM follow the fundamental rule of electrical safety and fuse the wire appropriately at the point where it is fed?
Kevin