Holy Electric Fire

[JediKnight2]

HOLY CRUD!!! I ALMOST just lost my truck! Had I not been a firefighter in a former life and kept calm....my truck would be fully involved right now...BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY this happened.

I bought a new RH electric mirror because it was broken on that side. Detached everything and hooked it all up. Went over to the drivers seat and turned on my ignition to check out if it was working properly. The switch never has worked for either mirror if I used the UP or RIGHT buttons on the mirror controler. I pressed down on the right or top, can't remember now and..POOF white smoke starts coming out.... I calmly lean to the side, grab my flathead screwdriver to pop off the control panel at the same time turning OFF the ignition....popped it off...pulled it out...and JUST as I uncliped the thing it burst into flames!!!! NOW...WHY didn't a fuse blow to begin with on this? Since it didn't...I am assuming it was the switch itself that shorted out somehow???? Question is...is this tied to my new mirror or is this a coincidence and the switch was bad anyway...if that is the case...I AM LUCKY this didn't happen driving down the road!!!!

[MT-2500]

What year and model?
Should have been fused or had a circuit breaker.
Has any body been putting wall mart 3 world fuses in it?
I have heard of problems with them.
Got good comp insurasnce?
MT

[JediKnight2]

No fuses burned...nothing...this is a 97 jimmy....suggestions on inserting a fuse on the connector would be greatly appreciated...I thought I saw a recall for this...but I called GM and there is no recall on my VIN other than a drivers seatbelt issue.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by JediKnight2

No fuses burned...nothing...this is a 97 jimmy....suggestions on inserting a fuse on the connector would be greatly appreciated...I thought I saw a recall for this...but I called GM and there is no recall on my VIN other than a drivers seatbelt issue.

Check all wiring to motor and switch for any damage.

The power mirrow circuit is fused at the CTSY fuse no. 2 in I/P panel fuse box with a 20 amp fuse.
It should have blowed the fuse unles there is a dead short to the circuit or a bad fuse.
Remove it and see if it has power on both sides of fuse block fuse plug in.
If so there is a short in wiring that needs to be fixed.
Also there is some bad fuses on the market that will not blow.
Check you old one and see if it will blow on a overload of 30amps or more.

To be on safe side replace it with a good brand fuse.
And all other fuses/circuit breakers to the power windows or locks.

You can also install /put a inline fuse on the orange power feed to the mirrow switch.
And also check at mirrow motor for 12 volt power to motor with fuse pulled.

If there is any kind of recall on power mirrow short I would ask GM to check it out even if your vin does not matc.
And get a copy of the recall and match it against your jimmy.

If you have good comp insurance they should pick up the tab for repair.
Good Luck And let us know how it goes.
MT

[MT-2500]

There was a big recall on them.
On GM trucks 507171 was recalled 97 jimmy included.
Dealer is to install inline fuse on the mirrow switch.

recall 03V093000
dealer code 03006

Manf dates may 1 of 96 to aug 31 97

Have another dealer or your dealer double check it again.
Or call NHTSA 800 424 9393
MT

[JediKnight2]

I am going to let GM look at it on Monday morning. What happened is exactly what they have listed for the recall...

GM Recalls 570,000 SUVs, Pickups and Vans
Posted 4/28/03 11:30 a.m. CDT. By Associated Press

Detroit — General Motors said Friday it was recalling 570,000 Chevrolet and GMC pickups, vans and sport utility vehicles to repair a mirror control switch in the driver’s door that could cause a fire.

The recall covers 1997-98 Chevrolet and GMC Suburbans, 1997 Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Jimmy midsize SUVs, 1998 Chevrolet C/K and GMC Sierra pickups, and 1998 Chevrolet Astro and GMC Safari midsize vans equipped with remote power adjustable mirrors.

In some of the vehicles, a short circuit could allow continuous current flow through the switch, producing enough heat to possibly start an electrical fire in the door.

GM said there have been 67 electrical fires where the mirror control switch was cited as the source. The incidents have resulted in three reported injuries.

About 507,000 of the affected vehicles are in the United States and 46,000 are in Canada. The rest are outside of the United States and Canada.

GM said it will notify owners and instruct them to bring the vehicles to Chevrolet and GMC dealers. A fused jumper harness will be installed for free in the door wiring harness leading to the mirror switch.

I assume even though I need the wiring harness modification...that means I have a short somewhere or the switch went on its own...when it happened I was holding down the right or top on the pad.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by JediKnight2

I am going to let GM look at it on Monday morning. What happened is exactly what they have listed for the recall...




I assume even though I need the wiring harness modification...that means I have a short somewhere or the switch went on its own...when it happened I was holding down the right or top on the pad.

It is either shorted someplace or the fuse failed to blow.
Check it out real close and use a inline fuse on it to be on safe side.
Even if switch was or is bad it should have blowed the fuse.
Gm should know more about it but I would say there is a shorted wiring to/on a unfused circuit someplace to melt down the motor.
Let us know how it goes.
Good Luck

[JediKnight2]

Took it in to GMC today...the tech looked at it and was like...THAT is EXACTLY what the recall was for. He had me call GMC Customer service and they had to escelate it to some other department because it actually caught fire....they might pay for the switch and harness with a fuse on it.