Small disaster.

[1surfer]

So I had a bit of a temporary disaster yesterday eve.

The truck is in the garage to work on as its getting bit cool outside here at 10,000' ASL.

I was trying to install a new speedo cable but it was the wrong one. Got that sorted out and found the right one.

I have been having trouble with the emergency flasher so I decided to see if I could get it to work while the gauge panel was out.
They key was off and I took the flasher unit out and put it back in. The flasher switch was on. I found that if I pushed up a very slight bit the flasher would work.
I had been looking in through the open gauge panel and had brought my right hand up from under the dash to reach the flasher unit.
I was going to pull my hand out and turn the flasher switch off and then on again to see if it would still work. Good news right ?
Upon starting to pull my hand out I bumped the Lt Blue wire that comes from the back of little red warning light. I heard a small crackle or snap like something was arcing a little. I decided to touch that wire and see if it was loose. It pretty much arced and melted the wire and seemed to run towards the back of the gauge panel.

The Amp meter had been bypassed, the key was off and it did blow a fuse. There was a god amount of smoke so I disconnected the battery.

I disconnected the back of the red light socket and there was no bulb inside. The hot wire must have touched the ground wire or something.

I kind of sat there thinking *** dd I just do ?
I did not see any other melted wires. Nothing obvious.

Went in the house and called it a day. So now i get to go out, replace the fuse, re connect the battery and see what happens ? I guess I will see if the truck starts.
I love a good adventure .... Hoping for the best, prepared for the worst.

Any words of advise ?

[Tom Petroff]

Always unhook the Battery before doing any electrical work.
Be glad it wasn't a 24 Volt system.

And never ever wear rings on your fingers.
Even a watch is bad enough.

Stay Safe!!
TGP

[1surfer]

flashers

I was checking the emergency flashers. I do not know how to do that with the battery disconnected.

[712edf]

Yep do your checking with battery hooked up, but unhook before doing any "fiddling" with wires. Its a catch-22, but can be minimized with the use of a good multi-meter to check for continuity when power is Off.

Tights areas like under dash are a booger bear, you can see what your doing & haven't the room to do anything w/o disturbing something that you don't want too.

Wiring is the #1 issue with Dodge trucks of the 60-80s.
Rust is #2.

Bucky

[1surfer]

Flasher module

Yes, that flasher module is sure tucked up in there. Cant even see it unless you have the gauge panel off. I just brushed the wire ever so slightly when I heard it arcing. I should have disconnected the battery then. Its when I touched the wire to see if it was loose that it smoked on me. Glad every thing else seems to be alright.

Now I have a clutch pedal that goes to the floor .....
Dealing with that.

[712edf]

Now I have a clutch pedal that goes to the floor .....
Dealing with that.

When it rains, it pours.

Bucky

[1surfer]

Clear picture

Sunny here today. Will be able to see what is going on with both eyes.