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smoke coming from dash, car wont start.


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shantelle
New User

Jan 2, 2014, 9:59 PM

Post #1 of 7 (2094 views)
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1992 Mitsubishi Diamante 3.0 200,000 mi,es 2 months ago while driving down road, smoke started coming out of vent. I pulled over pulled the newly installed cd player out and the electrical tape around a bunch of wires to the dash melted. Dash lights quit working when the headlights were on. continued to drive it for a month then it wouldnt start without jump. sparks were flying from starter. made sure no wires to alternator were showing. It quite sparking. still needed jump to start. A week later smoke started coming from dash,strong smell of electrical tape. car died. wont start. Got it towed home. took glovebox off and some of dash. there is no visible wires melted. what steps do i take to find the problem?


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jan 3, 2014, 3:42 AM

Post #2 of 7 (2070 views)
Re: smoke coming from dash, car wont start. Sign In


Quote
what steps do i take to find the problem?


Pick up the yellow pages ........... find a local tow truck .................. have it towed to an electrical specialty shop...........



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



nickwarner
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Jan 3, 2014, 4:47 AM

Post #3 of 7 (2066 views)
Re: smoke coming from dash, car wont start. Sign In


In Reply To
I pulled over pulled the newly installed cd player out and the electrical tape around a bunch of wires to the dash melted.


You had a CD player installed by someone who was incompetent and they have likely done more damage to this car than it is worth. I hate it when the ignorant call themselves stereo installers.

Since this wiring has been butchered by a novice there is no telling what has happened for sure. Diagnosing damage like this unfortunately takes someone very well trained in wiring and I doubt they will have much good news for you. With Hammer on this, tow it to a place that specializes in advanced electrical work and be prepared for very bad news and a lot of sticker shock. Next time, it might be worth paying to have the stereo professionally installed by someone who knows what they are doing and will guarantee their work. Seen a few cars myself that were totalled from a hack job stereo install.


Discretesignals
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Jan 3, 2014, 5:31 PM

Post #4 of 7 (2054 views)
Re: smoke coming from dash, car wont start. Sign In

Dumb part is that the OP continued driving the vehicle even though smoke was coming out of the dash. Are you waiting for your car to catch on fire and burn to the ground, so you can collect insurance on it? Hopefully no one is in it if that happens.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jan 3, 2014, 6:00 PM)


nickwarner
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Jan 4, 2014, 7:10 AM

Post #5 of 7 (2040 views)
Re: smoke coming from dash, car wont start. Sign In

Car is a 92 DS. I doubt there's any full coverage insurance on this thing. Its a death trap for free. Sad to see what might have been a decent running car destroyed to save a hundred or so on getting a CD player put in it. I have a friend with the exact same car that has over 400,000 miles on it. Getting harder to find parts but he is still driving it.


Discretesignals
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Jan 4, 2014, 11:12 AM

Post #6 of 7 (2036 views)
Re: smoke coming from dash, car wont start. Sign In

400K? Is that on the original engine?





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


nickwarner
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Jan 6, 2014, 7:16 AM

Post #7 of 7 (2019 views)
Re: smoke coming from dash, car wont start. Sign In

Yes it is, surprisingly.






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