Where there's smoke... Options

[flipb]

Why, oh, why, can't anything be simple??

I've been planning to pull off my instument panel to fix my odometer and replace the bulbs for night-time IP lighting.

The bulbs came today from PP and I ran out, eager to do something relatively simple. Unscrewed the IP and tilted it out. I admit, I was intimidated by the number of wires and decided to see if I could replace the IP lights (at least on the Tach) with everything still hanging out of the dash. There's one bulb near the top of the tach that was easy to pull. I took the bulb out of the socket and replaced it with a new one.

Turned the ignition to On, tried the lights, and the new bulb didn't light. Figured I didn't have it seated correctly in the holder, fidgeted and tried again. No light. I put the old bulb back into the holder and tried the lights...

Low hissing sound and LOTS of smoke from behind the IP. I'm guessing that by pulling on the IP, I shorted some wire back there? Can't tell the exact source of the smoke.

I don't have a lot of experience with electrical. What's my next move?

[agentblr]

I think the green and white wire is the high beam indicator lamp,better check the whole circuit...

[flipb]

I think the green and white wire is the high beam indicator lamp,better check the whole circuit...

Interesting.

There are two green & white wires. Both come out of the bundle in my second picture. The one that goes to the right goes to the tach, and I presume is for the high beam indicator - which does not work. This one is white with green bands every couple inches.

The one that comes out to the left goes to the Speedo. It's white with a lengthwise green stripe/spiral. That's the one that's fried. Does it command the parking lights indicator? My parking light indicator stays on whenever any lights are on (parking, low beams, high beams, doesn't matter).

Does this help point to potential root cause?

[VaccaRabite]

Interesting.

There are two green & white wires. Both come out of the bundle in my second picture. The one that goes to the right goes to the tach, and I presume is for the high beam indicator - which does not work. This one is white with green bands every couple inches.

Check the wire diagram on your haynes manual. It will tell you exactly what wire it is.

Then cut all out all the burned section, use a butt connector to put in the new length of wire, and heat shrink rap the butt connector and an inch or two of wire to either side. Then use some non-black electrical tape and a sharpie marker to make a flag near the terminal that states what the wire is for future reference.

This is the non-DAPO (and also the "I don't want a flaming car") way to fix the issue.

And, yeah. Check the circuit.

Zach

[kenshapiro2002]

Shocked...even I solder (then shrink wrap) and I'm a Rookie !

Interesting.

There are two green & white wires. Both come out of the bundle in my second picture. The one that goes to the right goes to the tach, and I presume is for the high beam indicator - which does not work. This one is white with green bands every couple inches.

Check the wire diagram on your haynes manual. It will tell you exactly what wire it is.

Then cut all out all the burned section, use a butt connector to put in the new length of wire, and heat shrink rap the butt connector and an inch or two of wire to either side. Then use some non-black electrical tape and a sharpie marker to make a flag near the terminal that states what the wire is for future reference.

This is the non-DAPO (and also the "I don't want a flaming car") way to fix the issue.

And, yeah. Check the circuit.

Zach

[flipb]

Shocked...even I solder (then shrink wrap) and I'm a Rookie !

Ken, there's a whole thread out there that undermines your claim to be a rookie when it comes to matters electrical.

I have a $5 soldering iron... might give it a shot.