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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Topic started by: Gwellin on May 15, 2008, 01:40:33 pm

Title: instrument panel wire harness question
Post by: Gwellin on May 15, 2008, 01:40:33 pm

I tried to start my truck for the first time this year and as soon as I tried to crank it over I noticed a burning smell from under the dash.  The wire that fried is a small 18guage orange wire in the instrument panel wiring harness.  Does anybody know what this wire connects to?  Or do you have any advice on how to troubleshoot the problem and fix it?  Thanks.

Title: Re: instrument panel wire harness question
Post by: VileZambonie on May 15, 2008, 02:43:18 pm

Need more information to help you out. You'll have to trace the ends of the wire.

Title: Re: instrument panel wire harness question
Post by: unbludictable on May 23, 2008, 09:36:10 am

I never had a buring smell but I' ve got wires allover the place just hope nothing burns. How do you trace wires  anyway?

Title: Re: instrument panel wire harness question
Post by: DnStClr on May 26, 2008, 06:32:57 pm

Gwellin, don't forget to add the year and model of your truck when you add the extra info..different yrs have different wiring colors.

Tracing wires is always best done using a wiring schematic and a test meter that reads ohms and volts-normally called a volt-ohmmeter. You can also use a 12volt dc test light.
 Now I'm not an electrician but this is a rugged explanation of how it goes-
 You disconnect one end of the circuit by pulling apart the connector or removing the wire from its component. Using a jumper,You ground the end of the wire and find out where the wire ends using the schematic. you remove the remaining end of the wire circuit and connect one end of the ohm-meter test lead to it  and touch the other test lead of the meter to ground. The meter is set on the ohms scale. x1 should send the meter needle all the way across the scale, or if the meter is digital it should read below 1 ohm. Something like 0.2 or 0.1.The indication is very small resistance, or continuity between one end and the other end of the wire. If the meter doesn't show continuity then there is a break or interruption in the wire and it needs to be fixed.
 Correct wiring schematics are super important.

Title: Re: instrument panel wire harness question
Post by: unbludictable on May 27, 2008, 04:45:06 pm

You sound like an electrician!!! How much will a wiring job cost, roughly, for a '76 GMC High Seirra?

Title: Re: instrument panel wire harness question
Post by: werewolfx13 on May 27, 2008, 07:16:46 pm

I'd suggest you get a painless harness and do it yourself..