Hot connector

[lutronjim]

Driving home in heavy rain I smell electrical trouble. Best I can I feel under dash and finally discover the adapter to connect replacement turn signal switch is hot. I try turn signals and they apparently work OK.

I continue drive home 10 minutes away hoping for best - didn't feel up to getting drenched. Get home and look under dash and the connector is cool???
Wiggled wires etc. and couldn't get anything to happen.

Anyone have any suggestions as to what I might try.

Thanks

[VetteVet]

I would take a look at the brake/ turn signal wires, in the harness from the firewall to rear lights and the front turn lights wiring. These lights are exposed to the elements and may have been shorted by the moisture from the heavy rain. Also check the lights themselves for any water inside the lenses.
The brown tail light wires might be shorting the yellow or dark green brake light wires at a break in the insulation or at the lights themselves and causing the lights to come on.
The harness connector at the rear of the truck would be suspect for that.
Good luck.

[lutronjim]

Thanks for reply.

Had time today to take a quick look see. Trying to narrow down what might have caused it. It was raining when I found it but not a downpour. I got into a deluge on way home after I found problem.

It was raining this afternoon so I took truck to run a few errands. Could not replicate problem. All parking, brake, and turn signals lights work. I would think a short/lose connection would be visible as a weak or no light. Also I would think a short would blow fuse.

I looked at under dash wiring and from the original 'C' connector to harness it looked good. The 'later model' winging and adapter also looked good but it was a mile too long.

Would you think possible lose 'pins' in adapter causing it to get hot? I will try to separate it and check for burns. If I can plug it together before it latches, I may run it that way so I can unplug if it gets hot again. I would also see which wires are hot if any. That may point me in some direction.

[lutronjim]

Cleaned front signal lights - some corrosion in sockets buffed with Dremel. Blubs appeared bright. Didn't have new gaskets but old ones in tact but appeared compressed. I put a light coat of RTV on edge of lens being careful not to plus drain gap.

Cleaned rear signal lights - no corrosion on sockets. Bottom edge of lens was wet - apparently water got in via lower screws. As with fronts I used a light coating of edge of lens and on screw with RTV.

I did find that the where the adapter attached to the original crescent receptacle was not seated on one side fully. If this was the trouble I would have guessed it would get hot not where the later model turn signal wires plug attached. I got it to snap together with some channel locks.

My plan was to see if I could unplug the adapter just enough to get by lock but still have good contact so that if problem reoccurred I could unplug on road.

I couldn't get it apart. The attached pic show where I think I should pull on tab to loosen but I'm not sure. I pried up with screw diver with no luck. Can anyone tell me how get it apart?

Thanks