Well, I went out to fire up the camaro which had been stored since August.
I had cranked it over a few time over the months, but not started it.


Well, with a few pumps of the gas, it fire right up. I let it run for a few minutes then walked out of the garage while it was running. I cam back and turned it off. I started it back up to make sure it would start fine.

Thats when I noticed smoke filling up the instrument cluster. I could smell that distinct smell of wires burning. I quickly shut off the motor and disconnected the positive battery cable.

I took off the bottom hush panel. I check all the fuses and all were fine. I looked at the wires I could see and everything was fine.

My next step is to drop the column and pull the cluster. If I cant find any burnt wires, I will hook the battery back up and try the ignition again. Keeping a fire ext ready.

Any thoughts or ideas on this???

Thanks

 

was it stored in a place that mice or something may have nested/chew wires in the dash? ive heard of that happening before

 

It was in my detached garage at my home. I did have the window down just a little. I had thougth about mice, but I guess I wont know utill I get the cluster removed.

 

damn rodents, i see your from London, im out of Owensboro, do you go to any of the Somerset shows?

 

I use to go to SCC years ago, But I dont get over much. We have Crusin on Main which is closer. Plus I go to London Dragway on occasions.

 

UPDATE!!

Ok guys, I pulled the cluster and dropped the column to get a better look at the connections. Good news, NO mice!! Bad news is that the cluster smelled burnt on the speedometer side. Not were the wires connect, but right above were the motor/gear for the speedo is.

This is a 91/92 cluster without the cable driven speedo. I have a TH350 tans, so the square plug and the speed sensor is no being used.

Any chance the speedometer burnt out? I have the wires that went to the 700r4 tucked up behind the brake booster. I will check those wires and make sure one didnt slip down on the header or exhaust. If this happend and melted the insulation and shorted the wires, would it cause the cluster to burn out?

I need advice!!!!!

 

you do have a beautiful car.
did you check to see if a fuseable link burnt out? that is what it smells lile burnt wire. i have had mine go once and there was smoke and the link fried to prevent a short in the system.

 

Thanks.

I didnt really see any fuseable links to check. I pulled all the fuses and none were blown. I think the speedo just burnt out. I dont know is that is possible, maybe someone can confirm it.

Oh yeah, The ECM was removed when I swapped to carb, so that is one less item to check. The speedo didnt even work with the ecm removed, so I dont know if it would have any juice going to it.

Help.

 

here is the page for this. its from my 90 but your might be close to this. mine has about 7 of them. look on the left for the name fus link and they at at a-c 1-3 if my memory serves me.

 

I will check the fuseable links in the different systems. But if a fuseable link blew, then the system just wouldnt work correct.

Is there any chance that the board in the speedo burt out? If the trans wires are unplugged, and the ECM is removed, could the board/contacts burn out in the speedo?

 

So if the speedo is burnt out, then can I still use the cluster or will it keep smoking and burn something else out?

I didnt use the speedo anyways, so will it be ok to just re-install the cluster and move on?

 

So can a speedo burn out from just being old?

Would it have voltage going to it if the ECM is removed and no VSS hooked up?