New muffler+burnt plastic smell+blown fuse=turn signals don't work?

[Hotwatermusic]

I finally got a new muffler installed (covered in a different thread) on Friday, and while it works fine, yesterday I started to get a faint whiff of burnt plastic within the cabin. I pulled the heater lever to see if the smell was coming from the back, and sure enough the fumes just completely filled the cabin and was unbearable. I stopped the car and popped the engine lid, looking for smoke. There was none. I looked for burned wires and couldn't see any. I didn't know what to make of it.

Come to today, I noticed now my turn signals don't work. Front, back and even the turn indicating lights on the speedo are out. I checked the fuse box in the trunk and sure enough the turn signal fuse is blown. So, what is going on? I'm guessing the coating of the wires were burned to bear metal, where they then shorted out against the metal of the car, blowing the fuse. But how were they getting burned? Could the new inlet pipe to the muffler be mounted in a way that it could burn the turn signal wires? Has anyone heard of this happening?

[James Brown]

Check the licence plate light wiring, it might have been melted by the new muffler.

[dshepp806]

That fusebox is due some TLC !!!!!


Doyle

[Hotwatermusic]

Originally Posted by dshepp806

That fusebox is due some TLC !!!!!


Doyle

You aren't kidding. You wanna help me sort through this mess? This is what the PO left me with and I haven't even begun to understand it all. It's like a bomb under there, where I'm scared to touch any wire because I think it's going to make everything blow. I just put the carpet over it and pretend it's not there. It's a nightmare.

"One Touch Smart Lane Changer" WTF is that?

[Jagshund]

"If YOU are that person who does not use their indicators at all ... OR ... who blinks them once and proceeds when changing lanes or exiting an intersection because it is a pain to use your turn signals the way they are? Then THIS is the product for YOU. By simply touching your turn signal switch up or down Once, the Blinking Smart Lane Changer will flash your turn indicator lights an additional 6 times allowing you to keep both hands on the wheel more. No more holding and keeping your fingers on your turn switch when changing lanes. Once you have used this product, you'll never want to drive another car without it!!!"

[Hotwatermusic]

Originally Posted by 1968Cayman

"If YOU are that person who does not use their indicators at all ... OR ... who blinks them once and proceeds when changing lanes or exiting an intersection because it is a pain to use your turn signals the way they are? Then THIS is the product for YOU. By simply touching your turn signal switch up or down Once, the Blinking Smart Lane Changer will flash your turn indicator lights an additional 6 times allowing you to keep both hands on the wheel more. No more holding and keeping your fingers on your turn switch when changing lanes. Once you have used this product, you'll never want to drive another car without it!!!"

Oh, well thank you very much. I guess I could've just googled it. Thanks for looking into it for me. A device that allows me to not have to keep my hand on the indicator for those pesky extra 2 seconds when changing lanes? Seems like a Cadillac feature....or what's those cars that old people buy? Oh yeah, Buicks. This has "Buick feature" written all over it. When I finally get around to getting that wiring cleaned up, that thing will be the first to go.

[Hotwatermusic]

Originally Posted by James Brown

Check the licence plate light wiring, it might have been melted by the new muffler.

I just checked the license plate lights wiring. The wire on the exhaust outlet side was very close to the pipe, but not burned--at least that I could tell. Both LP lights still work as well. I tucked the exhaust side light's wire behind some bumper bracketing, out of the way of the exhaust pipe. I guess that will let me know if that was the plastic I was smelling. Thanks for the suggestion.

[rluciano]

"One Touch Smart Lane Changer" WTF is that?

Guess what the guy who sells those is a customer of TPWS and they know all about them. Sorry to sound like an ad for them. :-)