NHTSA Complaint #10139693 — 1993 DODGE SHADOW

DT: THE VEHCILE IS A 1993 DODGE SHADOW ES. THE PROBLEM STARTED SOMETIME IN MARCH 2001. THE CONTACT HAD JUST PULLED INTO A FUEL STATION AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, WHEN SHE NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD IN HE STEERING WHEEL AREA. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD MELTED THE WIRING HARNESS. THEY REPLACED THE WIRE TO THE PARKING SWITCH AND THE PROPORTIANAL VALVE, IGNITION SWITCH, AND WIRING CONNECTOR TO THE SWITCH. THEY REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION ALSO, BECAUSE IT WAS SLIPPING THEY ADDED NEW CLUTCHES. IN MARCH OF 2005 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED AND IT STILL WOULD NOT START. SHE HAD TAKEN IT TO THE SHOP AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INLINE FUSES. THEN ON JULY 8, 2005 AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN OFF FOR ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES IT WAS STILL HOT. THEY TOOK IT HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. ABOUT AN HOUR OR MORE LATER IT WOULD NOT START. THE DOME LIGHT, HEAD LIGHTS, AND ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE ON. THE NOISE WHEN OPENING THE DOOR WAS STILL ON. ALL THE NEEDLES ON THE GAUGES WERE GOING IN CIRCLES. THEN IT WENT DEAD. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND IT IS STILL THERE. THEY CAN NOT FIND WHY IT KEEPS BLOWING FUSES.*AK