I drove my car today parked it in my garage and went to go back out to start it to run to the store it wouldn't turn over. I turned the key back checked everything and tried to start it again and this time I held it for about 4 secs. Shortly after smoke started coming from the top of the dash cluster. I then began taking all the plastic off to check the wires goin to dash cluster.when I got the top plastic off I noticed that on the film piece on the back of dash cluster had a little burn spot where the metal pieces run through the film piece. When I turn the key on the check engine light and all the other light flash then go away like usual, but the back lights do not work. Do I need to buy a new cluster to get my car to start or what. Thank you.

 

pictures

 

does it have a cable drive speedo?

 

Yea it's cable drive Speedo. And the burn Mark is above the cable. Trying to post a pic now.

 

the reason I ask is if the transmission ground strap is off, or engine ground strap is off, the starter will try and ground through the speedo cable, or sometimes the clutch cable in a manual, I've even seen melted throttle cables. if it tried to ground through the speedo cable it tried to use the grounds on the circuit board trace in the cluster,

 

you have a ground strap off or corroded or something, it's hard to tell what damage was done, it really depends on the path the current took trying to find a ground

 

ok i will be checking tomorrow. thank you so much for the help will let you know tomorrow.

 

this is nothing new, people have been having melting throttle cables on these cars for years, gone crazy trying to find the cause, and it's just a simple missing ground cable. if any are missing, especially the one on the transmission, the starter, alternator, and anything else grounded through the block, will seek another ground path. This is often through the cables

 

makes sense. i had my dad put my new throttle cable on probably 4 days ago and only drove it twice.

 

see if any grounds are missing on the block, since the speedometer cable is metal, and plugs into the transmission it probably tried to ground through it and then through the cluster

 

I was looking and noticed there was a ground wire coming from neg. Battery terminal it runs down to wheel well, hooks into a clamp and then it's run to the clutch cable bracket on tranny. From the wheel well to the clutch cable basketball the wire is showing and very corroded. Wish I knew how to upload pics on this Damn web site.

 

Bracket not basketball. Lol Damn auto correct

 

That's the easiest way. Sign up for photobucket and it's all smooth sailing.

 

Ok cool hopefully I can get some uploaded asap.

 

 

this is the wire coming from battery to clutch cable bracket.

 

i was curious with this as well. the black and yellow ground cable is spliced to a red wire that runs to nothing. could i have some problem here?

 

The problem is solved. It was the ground I suspected. I wouldn't have known where to start if it weren't for @lostforawhile. Thanks man I really appreciate the help.