Electrical gremlins?

[BLOWN454]

I went to work yesterday morning and everything on my truck was fine. Sat for about 8 hours then when I went to go home I get in and crank it and the only thing that happens is a very rapid clicking, with all the dash lights flickering off and on very quickly, and the speedometer needle went up and and down! Almost like a dead battery click but all the lights were clicking too. Then I see smoke coming from under the hood. Pop the hood, it looks like its coming from right in front of my main battery, right about where the relay for my HIDs and the inline fuse for my alarm are. But both of those were fine. Moved all the wiring around and got back in and it sounded like it struggled for a second but then started right up. No more smoke. Went to the store and came back out and it started right up. What the hell happened?

 

[Stumpuller6.5]

Sounds like you had a short to ground somewere in that wiring, moving it around may have stopped it from doing so.

If there was smoke you should be able to find some evidence in the wiring and make a repair. Make sure you have appropriate sized fuses, stuff can easily catch fire!

 

[Longshot270]

Sounds like you had a short to ground somewere in that wiring, moving it around may have stopped it from doing so.

If there was smoke you should be able to find some evidence in the wiring and make a repair. Make sure you have appropriate sized fuses, stuff can easily catch fire!

That is also what I'm thinking. Do look for burn marks so you can be sure.

 

[ScottyBoy]

A bad connection (loose and/or corroded) could cause high resistance and create lots of heat and possibly even arcing and smoke. I would check ALL the wiring on the battery cables and everything else in that area for any signs of burning, melting, arcing, or rust or corrosion.

 

[BLOWN454]

Took a closer look today, nothing. The fuse looks fine and I don't see any burn marks or anything out of the ordinary.