Smoke from dash!

[Jerry Weidner]

I was removing the gauge console and forgot to disconnet the battery when all of a sudden a puff of white smoke appeared inside the gauges, What most likely did I burn? cigarette lead? Should I replace the whole dash harness? I do not see any wires burned up or any melted ones yet but I have not undone the taped up harness yet. Suggestions on what to do. 66 big block coupe.

Jerry

[Dick W.]

Re: Smoke from dash!

You have violated Lucas's Law! You allowed smoke to escape from the wiring. You do remember Lucas don't you? The "Prince of Darkness"

Seriously I would remove the wrapping from the dash harness and repair the wiring. You can retape the harness by purchasing harness tape from most of the usual Vette parts vendors.

[Patrick T.]

Re: Smoke from dash!

I had that happen to me once and the smoke was actually the windings burning up in the gauges. I had to have the whole cluster rebuilt. $845 mistake for not disconnecting the battery. PT

[Jerry Weidner]

Re: Smoke from dash!

How do I know if its the windings? I have the cluster out. Always happens when your in a hurry.

Jerry

[Stephen L.]

Re: Smoke from dash!

Using an OHM meter check to see if you have any resistance across the poles of the individual meters. I don't know what the readings should be, but if you get some resistance then you probably haven't damaged the meters. Maybe you only destroyed one or two.....

[Klaus Friedrich #33362]

Re: Smoke from dash!

Jerry,

in my opinion as electrician, it is better to replace the dash harness and check/repair the gauges.
The car is 40 years old now and the insulation (plastic) of the wires is getting brittle. I got the same problem with my 69 convertible. Imagine the worth of your car - the harness isn't that expensive.
When I took a closer look to my harness I noticed that generations of mechanics had cut, "repaired" and taped the harness.
If you have a serious shortcut there you will not be able to extinguish the fire that can occur. The harness was not made for eternity.

Thoughts and greetings from Germany
Klaus #33362

[Ken Edmunds]

Re: Smoke from dash!

Jerry, I have seen damage to the wiring when the gauge cluster is moved from the dash wih oil line still connected. When you pull on the cluster it causes the oil line to contact the ballast resistor. Look for damage to the pink wires at the resistor.

[Jerry Weidner]

Re: Smoke from dash!

Thank you I will check tonight. Does a new dash wire harness run all the way to the starter? What wiring is actually contained in the harness.

Jerry

[John H.]

Re: Smoke from dash!

Jerry -

The dash harness includes the fuse block, and the only part of the harness that goes through the firewall is the wiring for the wiper motor, one pink wire to the ballast resistor, and a 2-wire pigtail with the connector for the backup light wires. The engine and starter wiring are part of the engine harness (connects to the inboard multiple connector on the engine side of the fuse block).