Fried some wires...!!

kirk r · 07-21-2009, 01:46 PM

o.k. folks,..have a 96 sidekick (4x4 2dr 1.6L 5sp) and last night driving home I fried some wires. Something shorted out and smoke started to fill the inside from under the dash....more to the story but here's the major problem (I think)...my mechanic called me to ask if I have "fire" on it as he found that a bunch of wires were fried...he wanted to know before he started looking into the problem deeper...I don't have "Fire" on it so he is going to take a closer look....I assume this is pretty serious? I paid $2600 for it last month...any chance that it's worth fixing? Once I have more detail from my mechanic, I can fill you in for a more accurate answer....aaahhhhhh!

Richard Craneum · 07-21-2009, 02:25 PM

Does it has an After Market Radio (no OEM). If so, that could be some loose cables and chaffing on the body.

What other mods has?

Flood Lights perhaps?

kirk r · 07-21-2009, 02:32 PM

there's a Kenwood Stero in it,....and yes it has some flood lights with a switch wired in,...mounted by the gear shift...seemed to work great until yesterday although the horn worked at times and then it wouldn't work...work, then wouldn't work..?

Richard Craneum · 07-21-2009, 02:50 PM

Well, start digging. I think someone did a sloppy job connecting them.

I hate when people monkey rig stuff...

relicduke · 07-22-2009, 07:14 AM

2600 for a '96?
If it does burn be very careful talking to the insurance suit,if you let slip it was a "pre ixisting condition"you'll get nothing but a hard time.

kirk r · 07-22-2009, 12:56 PM

well it was actually 1100 cash and he bought my 95 F-150 for 1500...so I figure I'm out 2600...

kirk r · 07-24-2009, 10:21 AM

just heard from mechanic and they have everything running fine,...signal lights / horn / ....etc....he replaced some wires and "patched" some others...he has been driving it for a couple days now just to make sure everything is fine and it appears that the problem is fixed (I say that lightly)....my question is, is there any way to find out if the original problem is gone or is it a gamble?....without replacing the entire wire harness, is there any other way to check on thinigs other then finding a "chaffed" wire?

Ole-Boy · 07-24-2009, 02:39 PM

Best approach is to look under the dash, in the engine compartment and underneith the vehicle. Take a good look for anything cheezy looking or bad connection. maybe even give them a little tug at the connection. If it's taped together, get some butt-connectors of the right wire size and redo them. Some folks just don't care and do things in a hurry. That causes problems down the road eventually. As in your case.