1998 Challenger 1800...melted wire harness..need advice

[markz444]

On may 15, 2012, took boat out for 1st time after being winterized. Ran great. Changed the plugs after about hour of mild running of engines. Kept on water for hours.
May 16, went to check fuel level, and got long single beep when lanyard put on dess. Noticed that some of the accessories on instrument panel weren't working, such as horn and the lights, but the bilge and blower were working fine. Went to check battery, noticed that a single, bare wire was not connected when battery out into boat after winterization. Also, there wasa melt mark across the battery cap.

Long story short...I'm now being told that the wire harness is melted and needs to be replaced, then we can determine if other electrical issues exist, including a bad computer.

Mechanic can't expalin cause of the melt. I'm not even sure what to ask here. There seems to be so much going on. Everything else is basically in excellent shape.

HELP!!!!!

 

[Dr Honda]

That's not a common thing to happen. So... I'm going to say, you have an electrical gremlin somewhere. Or... mice chewed into the wires... causing them to short. (That's common)

There is a post just a little ways down about a guy parting out an 1800. I would contact him about the harness.

 

[markz444]

Is there a chance that the computer is fried from the short in the wiring? I'm willing to get the harness fixed but reluctant because it may lead to other unknown issues. I'm afraid this could end up costing a few thousand dollars.

I was considering parting out this or rolling the dice and getting the harness repaired.

 

[Dr Honda]

there is always a chance that the MPEM could be roasted... but if you can get the used harness cheap... it's worth the chance.

 

[YUOnDaGround]

I would find any and all bare wires and fix them, then replace the fuses and see what happens.

 

[markz444]

I think that may be a good place to start. It doesn't make any sense how this happened.