GPC power wire meltdown AGAIN!

Dsl_Dog_Treat

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Ok, this is frustrating.
I was leaving the reserve center this afternoon and hit the key on the not so Gold one.
I was watching the WTS light and once it did its' 12 second burn I hit the key.
Looking up I see more smoke coming from under the hood that the tailpipe.:eek: :eek: :eek:
She fired off and I quick popped the hood.
A few of my other fellow Seabees came over and said hey what's burning?

Getting under the hood and to the source of the problem once the smoke cleared abit, I see the fusible links burnt to a crisp and one of the power feeds cooked beyond recognition.-cuss
Keeping in mind, this same situation happened last October and cooked out my GPC.:mad:

Well, I just so had some electrical tape with me and covered up the bare wires to keep em from touching any other wires as it did a number on a few others in close proximity and headed for home.
Not telling my Chief who's a major Dodge fan I skated out quickly once things were warmed up.

I got her home and repaired all of the wiring and replaced the fusible links(Thank goodness for buying that bulk roll.)

The thing that baffles me is that I had very clean connections and used an anti corrosion paste to keep things clean and even used heat shrink on all of the splice areas to keep em sealed from the elements.
The PO had a similar incident and he removed the GPC power wires from the main harness connector as it toasted em pretty good then.

The good thing is, I don't think the GPC got fried as it still will cycle for 8 seconds with the engine temps at 160 farenheit.
We'll see tomorrow morning when it's cold.

Anyone else have similar issues before?
What types of repairs did you do?

To me it seems that this might be an annual ritual if I can't figger it out.

Trav, I know we talked about a circuit breaker setup to replace the fusible links but have failing memory...Runs in the family.:rolleyes:
 

geonc

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Ron, are you still running the fact GP wires from the batt>fender relay> thru the right fender mounted bundle plug?

There should be 2 yellow wires that will be hot when tested w/key off.
Those wires are prone to failure.....disconnect those wires at the fender relay and GP relay....run some 6 ga wire with soldered ends w/ heat shrink thru a 250 amp mega fuse straight to the GP relay...

NJKen gave me that trick back when I had an IDI :hail :cheers:
 

Dsl_Dog_Treat

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Ron, are you still running the fact GP wires from the batt>fender relay> thru the right fender mounted bundle plug?

Yup.cookoo
I think that was what Travis was talking to me about doing as the mod.
I just need to to find all the goodies to get it done.
2 hrs in the cold working on it outside last night in the dark was a PITA.
Then this am the batteries were a wee bit loaw and at 20 degrees farenheit I needed a jump start at 0600 hrs:puke: -cuss
 

argve

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dude what have you got going on up there in snow land... I need to get under her hood again and get a good look see... I'm busy next weekend so that's out (Sherman's 1st Confession) but I want to get my goat paws on it to see what's going on because it should not be having this problem...
 

Dsl_Dog_Treat

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dude what have you got going on up there in snow land... I need to get under her hood again and get a good look see... I'm busy next weekend so that's out (Sherman's 1st Confession) but I want to get my goat paws on it to see what's going on because it should not be having this problem...

Trav,
Looks like Friday Dec 15th we're gonna be meeting in Middlbury area.
You free?
Could be a mini BOOB Christmas parts swap meet.;Sweet
 

argve

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man friday is a bad day because we are on 6 day schedule... let me see if they will let me score a vacation day...
 

Agnem

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... but I want to get my goat paws on it ...

Would they be purple? LOL


Sorry to hear your having this minor difficulty there Ron, but just remember even with the extra smoke, you still drove it home.
 

John Deere

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Have been having the same problem on an '84 6.9, as I was trying to figure out what was causing such a draw to keep burning out fusible link, I unhooked the connection to the coolant temp. switch behind/under the alternator, and realized that the connection there was corroded. For now I have just left it unhooked as the pickup starts very well anyhow, and starts just fine without the timing being advanced, and so far it hasn't burned the fusible link these past few weeks since the problem started.

Long story shortened, it's just another place to check.
 

Agnem

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I would suggest changing out the glow plugs, unless that has already been done. In my mind, it's not out of the question that a glow plug could develop and internal intermitent short.
 

Dsl_Dog_Treat

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I would suggest changing out the glow plugs, unless that has already been done. In my mind, it's not out of the question that a glow plug could develop and internal intermitent short.
Mel, I have been contemplating that.
Reason being, the last couple of days that the temps have been below 30 degrees, Goldie sounds like one of Kens decompressed builds and smokes like a chimney when she lights off.:love: :love:
Of course compliments of the Travi turn up in Angola. :D :D
I haven't had a chance to test the GP's but when she does light off, it does sound like one is missing for a few seconds.
 

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