Will start by saying this was one of the cleanest, most well maintained 99 K2500 Suburbans still on the road. Purchased from original owner, all maintenance done as suggested by owners manual, oil changes every 3k miles since new. Over 250k miles on the original 7.4L 454 and 4L80E and it ran like new.
Was cruising down down the road about 50-55 MPH in light rain. Tried turning the windshield wipers on and they would not work. After about 20 seconds of messing with the switch they randomly turned on at full speed. The truck then lost all power for a full second as if the battery got disconnected and reconnected a second later. 30 seconds later I smell electrical burning and decide to pull over. As I am getting closer to the side of the road I am now seeing smoke come through the air vents. I pull over, shut the vehicle off, and get out.
From outside the vehicle I can see flames rising from between the windshield and hood. I make one last effort to pop the hood but the heat coming from the engine bay was too much. Fire department arrives, gets the hood open, and soaks everything under the hood and in the front portion of the interior. I have the vehicle towed to my mechanic to give me the verdict. The windshield wiper motor failed igniting itself and wire loom on fire. The majority of plastics under the hood were melted, wiring harness fried. The fire traveled behind the interior dash and melted plastic and wires inside the vehicle. Total loss with no warning.
If you own a 90s Suburban and your windshield wiper motor starts acting up, pull over and shut the vehicle off immediately!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Will start by saying this was one of the cleanest, most well maintained 99 K2500 Suburbans still on the road. Purchased from original owner, all maintenance done as suggested by owners manual, oil changes every 3k miles since new. Over 250k miles on the original 7.4L 454 and 4L80E and it ran like new.
Was cruising down down the road about 50-55 MPH in light rain. Tried turning the windshield wipers on and they would not work. After about 20 seconds of messing with the switch they randomly turned on at full speed. The truck then lost all power for a full second as if the battery got disconnected and reconnected a second later. 30 seconds later I smell electrical burning and decide to pull over. As I am getting closer to the side of the road I am now seeing smoke come through the air vents. I pull over, shut the vehicle off, and get out.
From outside the vehicle I can see flames rising from between the windshield and hood. I make one last effort to pop the hood but the heat coming from the engine bay was too much. Fire department arrives, gets the hood open, and soaks everything under the hood and in the front portion of the interior. I have the vehicle towed to my mechanic to give me the verdict. The windshield wiper motor failed igniting itself and wire loom on fire. The majority of plastics under the hood were melted, wiring harness fried. The fire traveled behind the interior dash and melted plastic and wires inside the vehicle. Total loss with no warning.
If you own a 90s Suburban and your windshield wiper motor starts acting up, pull over and shut the vehicle off immediately!
- Ryan K., Orange Park, US