Electrical short/ lost fuel, temp, blinkers, and radio

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Nov 17, 2022
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Location
chino, ca
I have an 82’ FJ60. A few days ago I was driving down the freeway when my Volts gauge topped out, followed by a pop, engine dying, and smoke rolling into my gauge cluster. I have lost my fuel and temp gauge, blinkers, hazards and my radio. Any tips on where I should start my electrical search or how I should go about probing for a short. I took my dash pad off in hopes of finding melted wires but I wasn’t so lucky.
 
Start with the fuses under the dash and the fusible link at the battery.
 
Hi, Probably a ground issue. Look behind fuse panel and under dash.
 
does the truck restart or is it dead to the world right now?
 
does the truck restart or is it dead to the world right now?
It starts and runs. Everything works besides the things mentioned. While I was driving I heard the pop like something blew up and then smoke poured into my gauges. My dash lights still work. I don’t really know much about electrical so I’m hoping on tips of where to start probing so I hopefully don’t have to start peeling apart my entire wiring harness
 
Ok that’s helpful info to have. Kind of surprising none of the fuses popped.
 
Remove the gauge cluster faceplate. You’ll likely find the culprit in there.
Look for charred insulation and evidence of melting in the wiring harness. Look where wire bundles are tucked behind others.
 
Remove the gauge cluster faceplate. You’ll likely find the culprit in there.
Look for charred insulation and evidence of melting in the wiring harness. Look where wire bundles are tucked behind others.
Well it looks like my fuel and temp gauge coils burned up so that would explain the smoke inside my gauges and why they don’t work. Next is finding why my blinkers and hazards don’t work. I couldn’t find any melted wires behind my gauge cluster.
 
if you look at my signature you will see this:
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Click on the "Here" and you will find some documents...wiring diagrams will be your friend
 
I've attached the wiring diagram for the 1982 USA FJ60. I tried to highlight the items you say don't work. You might specifically check some of the other items that share the same feeder wires--cigarette lighter, other gauges, horns, etc. to try and rule some of this stuff out.

Since you got smoke into your gauge cluster you might think about pulling that out/apart to see if there is any evidence of a short circuit.
 

Attachments

The blinkers and hazard lights share the same little insufficient grounding bus connector. So do the headlights. Look for a thing that looks like the picture below behind the gauge cluster. When you find it (it’s tucked behind a wire bundle) examine it carefully. Maybe with a magnifying glass.

See this thread:

8FA1A756-556E-434D-A84B-5866F10B3DA3.webp
 
It is strange you burned up your instruments but didn't blow a fuse. I would think the fuse would be sized to protect them.

You should confirm your gauge fuse is only 5A, and maybe replace it anyway.

Maybe check the relay /flasher unit for the hazards/turn signals
 
It is strange you burned up your instruments but didn't blow a fuse. I would think the fuse would be sized to protect them.

You should confirm your gauge fuse is only 5A, and maybe replace it anyway.

Maybe check the relay /flasher unit for the hazards/turn signals
So I found one issue and it was my fusible link wasn’t connected properly. I’m assuming that’s why my fuses didn’t pop. I pulled out the temp and fuel gauge and they were each burned up inside(not any wiring). I replaced my flasher relay and I now only have my driver rear blinker that works. So closer but I still don’t have passenger side or driver front blinker. There appears to be no melted wires or plugs that I can find.
 
So I found one issue and it was my fusible link wasn’t connected properly. I’m assuming that’s why my fuses didn’t pop. I pulled out the temp and fuel gauge and they were each burned up inside(not any wiring). I replaced my flasher relay and I now only have my driver rear blinker that works. So closer but I still don’t have passenger side or driver front blinker. There appears to be no melted wires or plugs that I can find.
It’s a miracle, all of my blinker bulbs were shattered, so I’m assuming that was the pop I heard. Now I need to just replace my two gauges. Thank you everyone for the help and your time
 

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