Doomstein

Well, I had been having trouble with my car as of late, and today everything that could have gone wrong, HAS gone wrong. To be specific, my 1990 GT had been having starting problems. It'd crank very slowly. Today I drove to the gas staion and filled up my car, then tried to start it. *click*. Radio was on, checked the lights, plenty of battery power. Checked the battery, starter ground. *click* I thought the starter may be hung up so i gave it a whack with a hammer. Turned the key then the starter went crazy-out-of-control fast and grinded and stopped. It was one second after that that the cowl and dash started smoking. The carpet (I'm assuming) and the rubber where the brake petal meets the firewall burst into flames and things started getting out of control. I managed to get a fire extinguisher and stop the fire, but now the clutch pedal won't depress.

What the hell. Could a malfunctioning starter have started a fire like that? Also, what do you thing culd be wrong with the clutch pedal? Any input would be helpful.

mjr46

check the ignition switch meaning the electrical portion mounted on the column that triggers the selonoid for the starter

Doomstein

I'll do that first thing in the morning. This has taken a lot out of me, heh.

a_penquin

Im assuming you have a stock quadrant, and from the fire Im willing to bet the plastic melted and effectively welded itself to its self adjuster. This would be your cause of no clutch action. Also check your cable for damage. I'll agree its probably the ignition switch, since the starter would have caused an under hood fire. Best bet now is to go through painless wiring, or salvage yards for a new harness....

Doomstein

Well, the ignition switch looks ok, no melting or anything burned. I suppose I'll replace that along with a new starter and a painless harness just to be safe. I'm taking out the dash tomorrow to get a better look at the clutch, quadrant, and upper wiring. I removed the cluster and the center console already to see if there's any damage down there. When the fire started smoke was coming out of the e-brake area, but I'm assuming it was from the starter (smoke drifting up from underneath the car). I suppose while I'm at it I'll buy a new voltage regulator for my cluster, my oil pressure needle is jumping around and my gas gauge doesn't really work.

I think in about another year I will have replaced every single part in my car.

ttocs

wow, exactly why I carry an extingusher in both of my vehicles.

Doomstein

Can anyone direct me to where I can purchase a replacement wire harness? I want to be sure I get the right one.

projectresto83

No one makes a replacement harness that is a direct fit for the car that I know of. You need to check the local craigslist, ebay, or classifieds.

a_penquin

dont forget local salvage yards

Doomstein

Well, good news. It turns out that there's no severe damage to the wiring in the upper dash. All the burning seems to have been the rubber around the openings to the firewall (brake pedal, around the steering column, clutch pedal) I should be able to get everything done next weekend and be back on the road.