Replacing melted wires
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Posting Guru
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From: Cincinnati Ohio
Replacing melted wires
Since I took my bed off I have found some other problems to say. What worries me the most is that I noticed tucked right next to the fuel tanks are the wires for the taillights/license plate lights and the loom around the wires seems to be melted pretty good, its still unclear right now if the wires in it are melted or not, but anyways I am going to cut that section thats melted out and replace it with new wire. How Should this be done. Should I just use wire connectors, or solder and heat shrink?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Martinsburg, WV
Connectors are never a good replacement for proper solder and heat shrink. Just make sure to clean the wires, use a good 90-10 solder, liquid flux, and mesh the wires end to end, not wrapped or twisted. and use the good black rubber type heat shrink. then wrap in friction tape and get new split wireway. Also stagger your connections so they're not all in the same place. and make sure to get the same guage wire.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northern California
Make sure it's the wires that are melted and not just the black plastic covering the actual wires.
Inspect the wires closely, and if they are not melted together, or any bare wires showing, and they still work, I would not do anything to them, except perhaps put a new loom (cover) over them.
Inspect the wires closely, and if they are not melted together, or any bare wires showing, and they still work, I would not do anything to them, except perhaps put a new loom (cover) over them.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northern California
Friction tape is a cloth tape that is used in high friction areas. It helps to protect the wiring from damage. Any auto parts store should carry it.
I would also replace the plastic loom, that covers the wires. this also helps to protect the wires from friction and damage. Also avaliable n auto stores. Use the friction tape to seal the ends of the plastic loom, to keep out dirt, like on the original pictured.
I would also replace the plastic loom, that covers the wires. this also helps to protect the wires from friction and damage. Also avaliable n auto stores. Use the friction tape to seal the ends of the plastic loom, to keep out dirt, like on the original pictured.
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Posting Guru
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From: Cincinnati Ohio
Oh ok I get what your saying now, when I un did the wires it had some on the ends. Ive got about 50 feet of the loom and already installed it. Ill go tomorrow and get friction tape.
Logistics Pro
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From: Martinsburg, WV
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Freshman User
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i had the same problem in the same place, i went to the junk yard and got the wires from a truck and soldered them in. you should definately look for the underlying problem with this and also look for more melted wires. in my case the wire for my rear tails and instrument panel lights was completely melted and bare behind the fuse box
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northern California
Can't give you a definate answer, however...
Possibly A short circut, possibly due to friction at a stress point. 25+ years of rubbing back and forth wearing out the insulation until it short circuts to ground or to the other wires.
Possibly A short circut, possibly due to friction at a stress point. 25+ years of rubbing back and forth wearing out the insulation until it short circuts to ground or to the other wires.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: patricia ab canada
you had a previous post on your tail lights,corect? . the resistance from the coroded light circuits probably craeted a high restance causing the wires to heat up,thus melting your wires.that would be my guess