Armored cable melted but why?

G

galaxyjb

Junior Member
I had my instrument panel unscrewed from the dash and had the terminal box open to fix the passenger side stud that had some wiggle in it and to try to figure out why my dash light isn't working (still don't know). So I reconnected power while everything was apart to use the multimeter to test the dash light. After that I disconnected power at the battery and put everything back together.

When I put the dash and terminal box back together and reconnected power smoke pored from the dash. I disconnected power and pulled the instrument Panel and the armored cable was chared for about 4 inches with plastic wire oozing out of it and the discharge plastic stud on the ammeter looks discolored. The armored cable may have had slack and resting on the ammeter wires as that's the general area where the armored cable melted through the armor. Is it possible the armor can short out on the ammeter case or wires if in close proximity and caused this or could it be something else?

Thank in advance
 
Sounds like you've already figured it out -
But, I think you are talking about the armored cable to the dash light ?
and what probably happened was the cable got pinched either between the ammeter stud and the gas tank (pretty easy to do - there is not a lot of room in there) or it may have fell across the other ammeter terminal and shorted out. It's Murphy's Law that everything will be OK until you tighten the very last dash screw.......
 
Specifically the armored cable from the ignition switch to the distributor. It is now black for about 4 inches with melted wire oozing out that looks yellow. My dash light just has a regular wire. If my theory on what happened sounds about right that's great, I'll get the replacement parts and fix it up, just want to make sure I'm not missing something, I'm fairly new to A's.
Thanks
 
I had the same thing happen a few weeks back. When I installed a new battery I was tired and not thinking and connected negative ground not positive ground which melted a bunch of the the wiring. So make sure you have it connected correctly. Just a suggestion - could be you had a short. Also if you do not have one ,you should install an inline fuse - saves a lot of wiring problems.
 
Happened to a friend once. When he put the instrument panel back on he didn't
get the dash light wire in the little notch and pinched the wire between the panel
and gas tank.

Bob
 
As far as I can see the armour was the only wire melted.

Domino, I actually do have a fuse, the usual one mounted on the starter sold by all the parts houses, I know I have the correct amperage fuse in it which made me courious why it didn't pop, it has before. Oh well, a different mystery for another day.
 
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