My truck CAUGHT FIRE today!!! :(

[BobRitts]

Big snow today so I took the truck to work. I drive it occasionally but not every day, but it's in good running condition. 72 LWB K10, 87k miles on the clock.

It's about 15 miles from work to home, slushy roads, heater on medium. About 1/2 mile from home I start to smell something that I thought was brake pad - similar to that smell of cars driving down mountains w/o dropping into low. I had been driving in 4 hi all the way home so I kind of though some part of the drivetrain I rarely use was getting hot or had a baggie stuck on the exhaust or something.

Turning onto my street I see a little waft of smoke coming out of the headlight switch. I'm just about home so I turn off the lights thinking maybe the switch is shorting out... but smoke keeps coming out from the upper left dash, around the headlight switch and from the top edge of the dash and from around the gauge cluster.

I kill the engine, throw it in park and look down and see a little flashing light reflected on the floor... the kind a candle flame might make Couldn't see the flame, just the light it made on the floor.

I grab the fire extinguisher from the floor and douse the flame. It was somewhere underneath the dash, around where the top left corner of the gauge bezel plate is. The smoke was coming from the headlight bezel but I don't think the switch was the fire... could have been anything near the fuse box for all I know. All I had was an LED trouble light and it was (still is) too cold and wet to investigate too much, so I couldn't see where the charred area is... I'll have to look in the daylight and post pics. Plus, there's fire extinguisher powder all over now, fortunately the carpet is out and thank goodness I had a fire extinguisher!

Anyone ever have something like this happen? I'll post an update after I find the culprit - just so glad it didn't happen on the freeway (or after I had parked and walked away!)

Moral of the story: Get a fire extinguisher for your beloved truck!

[krue]

Better clean that powder up, that stuff is very corrosive if it's the PKP.

[bad_turbo]

Good save!! Just read a thread here about fire extinguishers too.

[Rokcrln]

Sorry to hear that but good save! If I remember right the head light switch is the main power feed for the entire truck so odds are it is your problem. Good luck.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

[corn]

Good to hear you made it home safe. Hope its an easy fix. That extinguisher paid for itself today...

[bouncytruck]

I've had two headlight wires (brown) melt down just outside of the headlight switch on two different trucks. It might be time to order a complete rewire kit and make sure you're safe.

[Rick Mills]

Glad to hear your OK. Things happen for a reason. It could've happened after you walked in the house... caught the neighborhood on fire... done time in county jail with a guy named "Bubba".... not so bad now that ya look at it.

[Boog]

That's a scary deal right there but you know a short can startup at any time whether the vehicle has been used lately or not. I would be concerned about the electrical system on any vehicle that sits for long periods of time between use. Condensation can lead to corrosion on contacts and before you know it you've got a problem whereas a vehicle used often gets warmed up and dried out helping to prevent this type of catastrophy. I'd disconnect the battery there my friend.

Hey pastor. You met Bubba?

[Sweet72]

Sounds like you were very lucky. Hope you get it fixed soon. I plan to install a set of headlight relays to keep the headlight switch from overheating and catching fire. The problem with the headlight switch is all the current to the headlights goes through the switch to the headlights and if a short develops, the switch and wiring will burn. Using the stock switch to control the relays is the way to go.

[trkklr77]

let me know if you need a new guage cluster and bezel.

[cheyenne10]

I had the brown brake warning wire that comes off the prop valve short and melt/smoke clear back throught the firewall and into dash area. All happened pretty fast. I got lucky and only smoked that wires insulation and not the wires in harness next to it althought it looked close. Lots of smoke, almost called the fire dept.

[MisterMan]

i know how you feel.
My truck:

[BobRitts]

Originally Posted by Boog

I'd disconnect the battery there my friend.

Hey pastor. You met Bubba?

Did that right away... and the guy down the street is named Bubba so I'm prepared...

Haven't had a chance to open it up, except to get the extinguisher dust out of there. Man that stuff has a wierd feel in your nose.

Thanks everyone for the replies, I will check the headlight switch and the relay idea makes a lot of sense. I've done that with aux lights before.

[skokie]

Sweet72 are you talking about this?
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...light=brighter

[Sweet72]

That's exactly what I'm referring to. One less fire hazard can't be a bad thing! The factory wired headlight switch carries all the current to the headlights, tail lights, parking lamps and license plate lights!

[brak]

I had that happen in my 81 stepside, except it happened when i turned the interior lights on.

1st things first. ensure the battery is disconnected, then remove your gauge cluster, this will give you easy access to all things drivers side dash.

remove the headlight switch, and inspect the surrounding wiring. you will know if any wires need to be replaced, because they will be crispy, melted, or have evidence of charring.

inspect the headlight switch for any signs of burning. If it smells of smoke, replace it.

I have an extra switch laying around if you need it. just let me know.

[mr402]

WOW! Hope this is an easy fix and related to the headlight switch as everyone thinks. I'm also very curious to know what the culprit is. Will be a good warning for all of us.

[grebus1]

For those in the know, would replacing the headlight switch and inspecting the surrounding wiring be good insurance against this happening? Or would the risk still be as great even with a new switch? I'm not sure I have the know-how to do the relay setup fix, but these fire stories have me a bit paranoid...

[Sweet72]

Originally Posted by grebus1

For those in the know, would replacing the headlight switch and inspecting the surrounding wiring be good insurance against this happening? Or would the risk still be as great even with a new switch? I'm not sure I have the know-how to do the relay setup fix, but these fire stories have me a bit paranoid...

These trucks have worked fine for years as wired at the factory, however corrosion and dirt find their way into electrical components over time and create "resistance" in the circuit so your lights don't seem quite as bright or your heater blower runs a little slower or not at all, you get the picture. This "resistance" creates heat within the switch, and when there is a high current draw, the heat is too much for the switch and associated wiring. An inspection would be a good idea, and a new "quality" replacement switch would be even better.

[brak]

Oh, I forgot to mention that the headlight switch is the same all the way up to the early 90s blazers. I'm currently using a switch from a 89 K-10 blazer i parted out.

The only difference is the retaining nut that secures the switch to the dash. the threads are the same, so you just use your existing mounting hardware...

[BobRitts]

Originally Posted by brak

I have an extra switch laying around if you need it. just let me know.

Thanks everyone for the info and for the offer. Hopefully this weekend I'll get in and figure it out, I've been afraid to drive it and I'm starting to miss my truck!

[grebus1]

I'm thinking based on this thread that I will replace my headlight switch (it may be original). What would everyone recommend as far as a quality brand name to look for? I don't mind spending more $ for a better quality switch if it might help prevent this issue. Thanks in advance...

[brak]

Originally Posted by grebus1

I'm thinking based on this thread that I will replace my headlight switch (it may be original). What would everyone recommend as far as a quality brand name to look for? I don't mind spending more $ for a better quality switch if it might help prevent this issue. Thanks in advance...

GM

just kidding. if you go to your local auto parts store they should have one, and any of the brands should be fine. None stick out in my mind that you should avoid.

[grebus1]

I know the parts stores will have one, but what I was looking for was a recommendation on a particular brand. I worked in a parts store a number of years ago, and there were definitely levels of quality among different brands. However it's been too long and I can't recall what the better ones were/are.

[truckdude239]

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...pe=408&ptset=A


i like GP Sorensen