Posted by gblotter on August 10, 05 at 16:04:47:
I was driving this morning in hot weather when I suddenly started smelling a burning scent and even saw smoke in the passenger compartment. You can never mistake burning electrical smells. I pulled over immediately to investigate - luckily no flames broke out - just minor smoke.
It turns out that my Banks Powerpack header-back exhaust system (installed last year) generates a LOT of heat. Because I got the headers and Y-pipe ceramic coated, the new catalytic converter gets especially hot right under the front passenger area (approx 1200 degrees). Without any special heat shielding, this was too much for my speaker wires running under the carpet - they were fused together in a smoldering mess. I was very lucky to avoid losing the whole vehicle in flames.
The speaker wires have now been replaced and re-routed. Tomorrow I should receive my order for a Heatmaster heat shield to install under the vehicle between the exhaust system and the floor panel. This is an expensive part ($350), but cheaper than replacing a torched Burb.
We are leaving on a long road trip vacation Friday going from California to Yellowstone, so I'm glad I caught this before disaster struck out on the highway.