ringo234

I just finished replacing my alternator Sunday morning. I started the car and everything was fine. I turn the car off but the key was still in the on position when I remembered I needed to put the intake tube back on.

While I was doing that I heard a click, like a relay closing, when got back in the car I noticed smoke coming from the center console. I looked through the opening near the gear shift a saw a small flame and grabbed a torque driver and began removing the screws as fast as I could, and put the fire out.

It was a small fire about the size a cigarette lighter would make.
Everything works fine and I can't see any burnt wires. The flames came from the area between the shifter and the side wall of the console.

I drove the car to a friends house (40 miles round trip), The car ran great the alternator was charging great. It wasn't until I was on the way home that I noticed the turn signals weren't working. I haven't checked the fuses yet but I will next time I go out to the car.

TA

iTrader: (1)

You have a light bulb that lights up the shifter selector, and since it also turns on with the marker lights, it might be what committed suicide. Welcome to the joys of driving old cars...

TA

Jeremy Z28

iTrader: (5)

Sounds right.

84 1LE

iTrader: (9)

There is a relay in the center console,usually by the e-brake.So maybe that was a relay click you heard.They tend go up in smoke when they fail/short sometimes.