Something is burning inside the cab, and I can't figure it out.....

[Zack1978]

Hi everyone,
I have no clue how to fix my 87 FJ-60! The problem is that there is a burning smell (very bad) in the cab when I am driving. The smell seems like it is plastic or wires burning. It seems that I smell it with the heat and headlights on. There is no smoke to be found anywhere, and I was attempting to sniff around, and I can't pin point the area that it is stemming from. It is making me nuts because the smell is horrible and you must keep the window open and it is 28 outside at the moment. I also don't want a fire. I wish whatever it is would just start smoking bad, so I can figure this out. Any ideas?


Thanks,
Zack

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Check the smoke tubes behind the dash as D'animal would say.

 

[RockDoc]

Can you get the smell with the engine off and the headlights/accessories on? Maybe you can pinpoint it better with no motion or engine noise. Have you pulled the dash apart to get a good look in?

 

[chitown40]

Check the distributor vent hoses. Sometimes they will bring a burning smell into the cab.

 

[Zack1978]

It is also strange because EVERY electric item works as it should. It is not from the engine, I know what the dizzy vent "explosion" smells like. I guess I could tear into the dash, but that would seem to be a PIA if I don't know what I am looking for.


Zack

 

[GLTHFJ60]

You could do something simple and pull out the HVAC controls to get a flashlight in the dash. Something simple like 8 screws and you can do it quickly.

Pulling pieces of the dash apart sucks, but is definitely better than having a fire in the truck.

 

[smkymntn]

Check the distributor vent hoses. Sometimes they will bring a burning smell into the cab.

X2 I had this same problem- cleaned the vents and no more smell

 

[D'Animal]

LOL!

Check the smoke tubes behind the dash as D'animal would say.

You have a wiring that is burning up/melting because of too high of a load on it. Check all of you grounds. Body to Engine, body to frame, engine to frame, etc.

As an example, If it does it when the headlights are on, check the headlight grounds. It is try force the electricity to the head light and it is looking for a ground to complete the circuit. If it cannot find the ground, it will keep putting electricity to it until the smoke tube lets you know where the problem is.


Make sure all of you fuses are the stock Amps.

 

[cruiser88]

Check the blower motor wires.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Check the blower motor wires.

Blower motor won't come on until the truck is off, correct?

I agree with D'animal. Grounds.

 

[alaska60]

x2 on checking all grounds with focus on heater and headlights.

 

[D'Animal]

I think he was talking about the heat blower motor since it is 28 degrees out.

Check the blower motor wires.

Blower motor won't come on until the truck is off, correct?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I think he was talking about the heat blower motor since it is 28 degrees out.

Yeah, makes more sense than the carb blower motor, or fan....

 

[cruiser88]

I think he was talking about the heat blower motor since it is 28 degrees out.

I only posted it cause it happened to me once

 

[Zack1978]

Ok so the plot gets deeper! I looked around I can't find anything that looks out of place or burnt. Well today it got bad, the entire dash would light up, and kill the heater blower and take out the headlights, and the turn signals get crazy. I had to drive at least 5 miles with no headlights in the dark, that was fxxxing crazy! The strange part is that after all that it would just go randomly back to normal. I am at a loss to figure this out. I think I have ruled out the HVAC system, I think it is in the headlights? Any ideas? I am very lost! If the mechanic can get me in, I might just let him fix it.


Zack

 

[billmc]

I am very lost! If the mechanic can get me in, I might just let him fix it.

Zack

LOL Just picture him like in the cartoons with little cash registers for eyes! Seriously, you're asking him to do exploratory surgery on you wire harness. Just get yourself the wiring diagrams, make sure all your grounds are shiny clean and treated with dielectric grease, and then pull your dash off so you can see the main wiring bundle. There'll be multi-pin splices taped down along it. Start unwrapping those, you short will probably be in one of them (it'll be all black and melty).
Try particularly the orange one in the pic (I think above and to the right of the steering column).