Wire fire under the hood...

[grnphrog]

my son said he turned on the wiper switch when smoke and fire started behind the dash. He turned everything off and the fire went out, but he started starting it after that and nothing...
I'm pretty sure its because the Head light switch is old and cruddy which caused it to draw a lot of current... who knows.

[img]http://picasaweb.google.com/112682182116859900961/DropBox#5726616732654961202[/img]

my question is this. I was looking at the wiring diagrams: http://vintagebus.com/wiring/bug-69+71.jpg

and i see the wire from the voltage regulator is going to a terminal in the headlight switch that is also on the same terminal as the signal lights terminal?

seems weird to me(because the lights can stay on without being turned on?!),
but my wiring is like this...

[img]http://picasaweb.google.com/112682182116859900961/DropBox#5726617588445226546
[/img]

it goes from the regulator to the #9 terminal on the fusebox,
and not to the switch.
There is(was) a wire going from #10 terminal up to the headlight switch, so I'm assuming this is almost the same thing?
Is this ok?

Now the real problem...

i say 'was' earlier because the wire coming off the #10 fusebox terminal going to the headlight switch AND the wire going to the ignition switch FRIED like southern chicken.

the fire and heat did cause some damage to the wire at #9 fusebox terminal, which is the wire going to the regulator.

my solution is to replace the headlight switch and replace the one wire at #10 terminal with 14 gauge wire, and splice in the same to repair the regulator wire and ignition wire.

any thoughts or advice?

TIA