1994 GP Electrical Question

[newhere]

I have a 1994 GP 3.1 SE with an apparent electircal problem. I first noticed my RPM and Speedo needles bouncing with the turn signal when on. I figured it was a bad ground somewhere in the instrument panel. This evening i noticed a strange smell after driving home and found the plastic cover to the positive terminal post at the side of the relay housing on the driver's side began to melt. Is this a bad ground or something more serious? Any suggestions on what I can check or try?

thanks from a new poster

[richtazz]

it's probably a burnt fuseable link, which are mounted at that post. They burn through when there is a circuit overload and can melt that cover when they go. You'll need to find out what caused the short that burned the link out, which may be a pain, or when you replace it, it will just fry again.

[newhere]

any suggestions on where to start looking? i am pretty good with mechanical stuff, but not with electircal.

[Dirk0718]

I have a 94 GP 3.1L that is having the same problem. I haven't noticed any melting around the positive auxilary post but the rpm fluctuation has become worse in the past few weeks. the rpm's will bounce from around 1800 around startup to as low as 500 or lower when i turn the steering wheel while stopped at a light. Pls let me know if you've found the solution, it would fix this headache of mine.

[richtazz]

I would start with the grounds. Check the battery cables for corrosion, and follow the ground cable to it's end, and make sure where it bolts up isn't covered in oil or corroded.

[tinglygravy]

I had the EXACT same problem with my 94 Grand Prix (even the melted positive cap)...the fix was easy you'll need to clean the ground connection right under the cap (the small nut that holds the ground wire down) and then you'll need to clean the ground connection under that. That connection is under the fuse box beside your melted red cap. just lift off the support brace, lift off the fuse box and clean the connection right underneath. Worked perfect for me and the needles stopped bouncing around.