Archived dash smoke

[jwalton]

94 4X4 2500 slt. Ok I've been working on the ram for a few months not being started the whole time. Took fuel tank,bed,bumper off and wiring loose to paint the frame and replace brake and fuel lines. Finally started it today and while preparing to bleed the brakes i saw a bunch of smoke in the cab. took the panels off the dash and saw one wire to the ignition switch was definitely fried and maybe a couple more going to the steering column. Now is a common problem? All recalls have been done and i didn't see where any wires were pinched. There was one of the marker bulbs that got smashed but i didn't think it would do this. Any ideas? Looks like a gray wire with a black stripe. Thanks Joe

 

[46mech]

walton,



Are there any signs of rodents in the cab? After sitting that long, it may be that mice or rats... ... . ?? Maybe chewing on some wires?

 

[BarryG]

46mech may be right. Used to have a 76 Cad Deville. Was doing some resto work on it over about a 60 day period. Previous to my start it didn't have any electrical prolems whatsover. After I got finished, I took it out for the inagural road trip and after about 15 miles a freaking mouse jumped out of the the air vent right into my lap. Not a big deal except we were doing 75 startled the heck out of me. Pulled over got his litttle butt out and continued on. I started noticing electrical gremlins on that trip. One day I thought I would check into it. Started by removing the dash and low and behold I found several chewed up wires. Not all the way through but just pieces of sheathing missing. Found the little buggers nest and it was made of carpet fibers and wire insulation. Took me another 10-15 hours searching for and replacing chewed wires. After I got finished most all of the electrical gremlins were gone.

 

[jwalton]

Ok I have got all the melted wires isolated now and need to know what the gray wire with a black stripe is that goes from the fire wall to the ignition switch. Could some one look in their shop manual and see. the Haynes book doesn't show it. I have a dodge manual on the way 7-10 days away. Thanks. Joe

 

[jwalton]

I cant find any sighns of mice, pinched wires, or anything else wrong. The wire in question is the UH OH!! brake light. The one you never see come on untill you allready feel the pedal doing something it should not be doing. I un hooked it and fixing the wires. Admin you can take this thread out of the 911 forum. I tried to delete it but could not. Joe