What is this? Started car and white smoke coming from it

[dba7108]

The battery on my x type 2.0d was flat after not being used for a week. I jump started it from my mercedes and the Jag seemed to be running fine, still had the bonnet open when i noticed white smoke coming from the offending part. The part was red hot, and was glowing. I turned the engine off and let it cool down and now the part seems to be loose as if its cracked off from whatever it was on. Tried to jump start again and the car tries to turn over but battery seems too shot.

Can anyone advise what it is that was glowing and smoking?
thanks

[Old Merc]

Its difficult to be sure from that photo but I would say its the top of a glow plug or part of the feed to the glow plugs?? What ever,? if its red hot and smoking I would get it looked at by an expert just in case other parts become hot and start to smoke!

[smartphone hater]

It does look like the feed wire for the glow plugs & the bit that's melted looks like a wire joiner similar to the one in the pic below. My guess would be that it's rusted/corroded so not making a good contact so got hot & melted the plastic mount. But what ever the reason for failure it needs removing & replacing with a new wire terminal or terminals depending on the condition of the one we cant see, also the glow plug circuit needs checking as well to make sure it's working correctly & also that it's cutting out after the correct time after turning ignition on.

I think the melted part does the same job as this.

Edited by smartphone hater on Wednesday 29th August 02:27