Electrical issues - All the smoke is getting out!
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Tacoma, WA
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Electrical issues - All the smoke is getting out!
I am trying to fix/sell a 1989 Cherokee Laredo for my grandmother. It seems to be an electrical nightmare under the hood because almost nothing in the wiring diagrams I've found online or in books matches the wire colors in this Jeep. It's obvious that someone has been in there at some point cutting and splicing wires, which is no good.
The problem I'm currently experiencing is that the wire marked with an arrow in the picture below was literally smoking and melting with the battery hooked up. Now, this wasn't the case 6 months ago. So something has gotten stuck or gone bad while it's sat in the driveway.
Where does this wire go? It starts off blue then turns to red. I believe the blue part might be fuse-able link, but I'm not positive. The nearby green ones are labeled as such, but the blue one doesn't appear to be.
.
The problem I'm currently experiencing is that the wire marked with an arrow in the picture below was literally smoking and melting with the battery hooked up. Now, this wasn't the case 6 months ago. So something has gotten stuck or gone bad while it's sat in the driveway.
Where does this wire go? It starts off blue then turns to red. I believe the blue part might be fuse-able link, but I'm not positive. The nearby green ones are labeled as such, but the blue one doesn't appear to be.
.
#3
CF Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Nor-Cal Coast
Posts: 10,489
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes
on
17 Posts
Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
Logan, just in case you didn't know, if you hold your "ctrl" key, then press "+", it will enlarge Radi's diagram.
As my handle suggests, I'm sort of a bone-head. Just disconnect the smoking wire and see how it goes..what is NOT working?
Do look around, and under the dash. Mice and other cridders chew insulation and do all sorts it un-welcome stuff.
As my handle suggests, I'm sort of a bone-head. Just disconnect the smoking wire and see how it goes..what is NOT working?
Do look around, and under the dash. Mice and other cridders chew insulation and do all sorts it un-welcome stuff.
Last edited by DFlintstone; 06-07-2013 at 12:53 AM.
#4
CF Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Nor-Cal Coast
Posts: 10,489
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes
on
17 Posts
Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
It looks like the blue goes to the alternator. It has 6 diodes in it, if one of the three positive were shot it might ground that, but I'd suspect a wire.
#5
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Tacoma, WA
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
One other thing, one of the green fusible links that splits into red wires had a battery drain someplace.
I managed to trace it to the door pins for the dome light. I couldn't get them working correctly but once I removed the fuse for the dome light then the battery drain went away.
I did this last summer in order to get rid of the battery drain, everything seemed fine after that. However, this spring when I decided to buckle down and get the thing sold, I hooked up the battery and that's when the blue link started to smoke.
I managed to trace it to the door pins for the dome light. I couldn't get them working correctly but once I removed the fuse for the dome light then the battery drain went away.
I did this last summer in order to get rid of the battery drain, everything seemed fine after that. However, this spring when I decided to buckle down and get the thing sold, I hooked up the battery and that's when the blue link started to smoke.
#6
CF Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 5,302
Likes: 0
Received 19 Likes
on
16 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Disconnect the red wire at the alternator and see if the problem stops. If it does, there's a fault with the alternator. If there is still trouble, follow that wire back from the alternator to the start relay/fusible link looking for shorts, abraded insulation, etc.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jeefersjeepers
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
3
09-20-2023 12:51 PM
Jooman07
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
17
01-03-2016 04:15 PM
neocracka
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
8
09-05-2015 06:50 PM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)