Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Fire!!!

[EGaskamp]

Today I had my truck parked at a friends house and it had been sitting there a good 45 mins and I know everything was cold. Anyways, I looked at my truck and noticed smoke coming from under the hood. I popped the hood and I saw flames coming from a wire between the lift pump and starter. I don't know how it started but I didn't even turn the key on or aything. Has this happened to anyone else. I've been driving it around and everything seems normal. Whats up? Thanks.



Eric

 

[rs454]

I dont know if this will help or if it applies but my 98 had to go in for a recall on the wiring I think it was the heater grid circuit I took it in for the throttle linkage recall and they ordered the parts and did the wiring recall as well . A tech informed me that I should replace the non factory starter (napa) that was on my truck with a chrysler one as they have had other units fail and burn the wiring harness . The heavy duty starter contacts that larry b's sells may correct this problem if it turns out to be starter related. Rich

 

[Andy Redmond]

Eric:



There are several wires in that location. The heater recall mentioned only applys to some 1998 trucks. The recall addresses adding a fuse, wire and "buss" bar to the Power distribution box (PDC) as it was "missing from the factory. " This will allow the fuel heater to have power and work if cold enough to activate the circuit. less than 45 deg F? You have a fuel heater relay attached to the fuel shutdown solenoid relay for your fuel heater wiring (the smaller of the two, and is unused on the 98 we mentioned. . no wires are attached to the relay). You also have some wire harness on the fuel heater itself, down in the area you describe. You also have a heavy ought cable that supplies power to the starter and a small solenoid switch wire.



I haven't seen a oil pressure switch harness go up in smoke yet...



I also would ck. the "blue" fuseable link on the DS pos. batt. terminal. Do your grid heater relays below the battery look ok?



Usually if the plunger sticks in the starter, it will not disengage the starter after the key is released causing it to fry in short order and or also damaging the shutdown solenoid.



Good luck,

Let us know what you find.



Andy

 

[Lynn_Schwartz]

Eric - my fuel heater sensor, on top of the fuel heater, turned into a pile of charcoal a while ago leaving a couple of wires hanging loose. Didn't effect the operation of the truck. I had a switch installed and now when it gets really coal outside I turn on the switch to pre-heat the fuel. This could be your problem. Let us know. regards, Lynn

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Ditto on the nature of the '98 recall. The trucks involved shipped without a fuse in place for fuel heater and no line-side pigtail wire to feed power from the PDC buss! The load-side of the fuse position (sans fuse) was correct and no short-circuit issues were mentioned.