Dash started smoking and all my lights came on and gauges went flat?

JEN-LYNN

MEMBER
2005 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY
AUTOMATIC
180 MILES

My dash started smoking and all my lights came on and gauges went flat then we replaced brunt wires because it happened after I used my car lighter. But now all the exterior lights stay on all the time they shut off eventually after my van is turned off. Also when my car is off and I step on the brake the radio comes on. My left side sliding door will not lock or unlock I have to do it manually also when I push the button to open the right sliding door it does not work. The left side has always been that way since I had it and the right stopped working awhile ago but everything else happened all together. I think I've covered everything. I took it into a mechanic and they said I need a new electrical harness and will cost around $1000. To fix which is outrageous and something I really cant afford and dont know if its worth it considering it has over 180,000 miles and I really cant afford a newer car.

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

This is normally a module or wiring issues. So, we need to assume they are correct that you need a new harness as it is pretty obvious when the wiring is melted.

I would suggest having them show you the damage so that we are sure it needs the harness and cannot be repaired.

If it is extensive and not just a couple connectors, then they are correct it is cheaper to replace the harness.

However, if the connectors are damaged then they can be replaced with a new connector.

Here is a video that shows how to do this on a headlamp socket:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxA5wczsCVo

Please let us know if you can get pictures of what they find and we can help confirm this for you but if it were me, I would most likely not put that much money into a car like this.

However, the way to figure that out is to get the value of the vehicle and if the cost of the repair is more than the value then you do not do it.

If it is not, then you need to decide if you want to put that much into it or get what you can for it as it sits and add that to the repair cost that you would have spent and buy a new vehicle for that amount.

Please run through this info and let us know what you find with the damage, and we can go from there.

Thanks