NHTSA Complaint #10451072 — 2008 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

THE VEHICLE'S CHARGING SYSTEM INCLUDES A HEAVY GAUGE WIRE WHICH RUNS FROM THE ALTERNATOR FEED POST TO THE STARTER WIRING HARNESS, WHICH THEN CHARGES THE VEHICLE, AS THE STARTER WIRING HARNESS THEN RUNS DIRECTLY TO THE BATTERY. NONE OF THIS WIRING APPEARS TO HAVE A CIRCUIT BREAKER OR FUSE INLINE. THIS PARTICULAR WIRE WHICH RUNS BETWEEN THE ALTERNATOR AND THE STARTER IS ROUTED THROUGH SEVERAL BUNDLES OF OTHER WIRES, AND MAKES A HARD BEND IN ONE LOCATION WHERE A BUNDLE IS SECURED TO THE FRAME. THIS WIRE FORCED ITSELF OUT OF THE BUNDLE, AND THEN ABRADED ITSELF AGAINST THE FRAME UNTIL IT FINALLY MADE CONTACT WITH THE COPPER THEREIN AND SHORT CIRCUITED. CONSIDERING THERE IS NO BREAKER OR FUSE IN THIS CIRCUIT, AND THE WIRE APPEARS TO BE ABOUT A 6 GAUGE, IT SHORTED UNTIL IT MELTED, FINALLY BREAKING THE CIRCUIT. THE APPROXIMATELY TEN INCH SECTION OF THIS WIRE BETWEEN THE SHORT AND THE STARTER APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED ON FIRE FOR A SHORT TIME. LUCKILY, THIS SMALL FIRE EXTINGUISHED BEFORE ANY OTHER FLAMMABLE COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD ALSO CAUGHT FIRE. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, OTHERS WITH THIS PARTICULAR AUTOMOBILE WITH THE 4.0L ENGINE HAVE NOT BEEN SO LUCKY. PICTURES CAN BE FURNISHED UPON REQUEST. *TR