While installing my new Warn Powerplant, and drinking too much beer (Its hot out here in southern Arizona), I attached the negative winch cable to the positive terminal on the battery; the winch's positive cable was not yet connected. All of a sudden smoke started to rise from engine bay on the driver side. I looked down at the battery and realized my error and quickly disconnected the cable, while adding a few choice words aimed at my total lack of stupidity. After further inspection, I discovered the rubber coating partially melted off one of the steel brake lines in the engne bay area; this is where the smoke was coming from due to the cross-connected negative winch cable. Is this a safety feature Jeep built in, or did the higher power from above alert me to stop drinking beer and pay more attention to detail! The Jeep runs fine with no issues...just puzzled/curious if anyone knew what caused this reaction. DOH! On a different note, I love my Warn Powerplant!!! FYI...If anyone purchases the LOD Stubby, the Warn Powerplant install was seamless; mounted right up.

 

you say the rubber melted off a brake line?! wow...lucky is all i can say as far as electrical damage goes, but id be worried you mighta boiled the brake fluid if it got that hot

 

I hate to sound like I'm lecturing you, but let's just say this is for the benefit of everyone. All beer drinking (or, in my case, wine) should start after completion of the critical tasks, whether it's painting your house or installing a winch on your Jeep. This is especially true when you have friends who agree to help you; make that clear to them when you ask for their help.

 

I'm guessing here, but if the winch was connected to the bumper/frame it's possible the ground path went through the brake line to get to the body and battery. I bet that wasn't the only path though. I'd do some very serious investigating of other areas which might have been damaged but not emitted smoke.

Also not intending to lecture, so I'll just say I'm glad your luck was with you and you weren't seriously injured.

 

This stuff happens even without beer. We all need to double check when playing with electricity.

Do you remember where the pos cable that had not been connected yet was resting? Any chance you draped it over the engine / was it touching the brake line? Electricity will take the path of least resistance back to a ground.

 

The winch positive cable was draped over the air box area and may have been touching the wire mesh on the K&N air filter. The negative winch cable was only connected to the battery positive post for less than 10 seconds. Very bizarre, but quickly received my attention/immediate reaction. This 40+ year shade tree mechanic's pucker factor was sky high. Electricity works in mysterious ways...