Apparently N body https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Dakota
Was there enough oil there to burn or was the wire insulation what caught fire?

 

I honestly don't know what started the fire. At first I thought it was the AC. I hadn't run it since last summer and this was the first time I ran it since. It wasn't near the compressor but some of those lines can get hot. Then as HY pointed out, it could possibly be one of the regulator wires that caught fire. I'm kind of leaning in that direction now but truthfully I do not know.

I kind of thought we were Body N but I wasn't certain at all. When I go to the parts catalog for my 93, Body N it says the p/n for the Speed Control Cable is 53009316. The EBay ad (below) is calling it a 52078386 but the description says 90-96 Dodge Dakota. I can't find anywhere else what a 52078386 is so I'm thinking his p/n is wrong in his ad. The picture sure does look like the one I have on my truck.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/14537777571...Bk9SR6iby735ZQ

 

That seller has some pretty bad reviews and another guy on ebay had similarly bad reviews showing a different cable for the same use.
Anyway here is the Mopar Parts Giant page with part numbers for your year. I'm not sure it helps you much. https://www.moparpartsgiant.com/part...d_control.html
Maybe adding more detail about your truck in the left column will help?

 

Yeah, I almost always steer clear from an Ebay seller with less than a 98% rating unless I'm desperate. On the other hand, the type of business the seller in has to be given some consideration. Boneyard parts would be one of them. One, it can't be easy finding parts numbers. Two, you're dealing with a zillion different car parts. Three, you're dealing with customers who don't exactly know what they're doing either. The chances of something going wrong is pretty high. It's not like buying a sponge or a hammer. There's not much opportunity for screwups there. I guess what I'm saying is used car parts is a crapshoot in a lot of cases.

I saw that pix you linked. They actually have two part numbers. The latter one is the one in the 93 Dodge parts book. If the part# he has in his description led to another cable it would be one thing. But it doesn't lead to anything so that tells me he just messed up with that number or copped it from a bad source. He has a 30 day return policy so there's that and he's been around for awhile. EBay doen't tolerate sellers who do not live up to their terms. The next obvious question is how long would it take to find one with the correct number? Again...desperation.

 

In case you have not pulled the trigger
https://www.hollanderparts.com/used-...peed-regulator

 

Thanks 94! Yes, that looks like the one. I actually pulled the trigger on that EBay one this morning. But in case that falls through I will refer back to your link. Before I pulled the trigger I inspected my cable very closely and compared it to the pictures on EBay. It's dead nuts the same that I can tell unless there is more to this cable than the geometry. I'm going to post some pix tomorrow to see if anyone can give me pointers on the installation. I'm sure I can do it but I subscribe to taking advice from people who know how to do it. I aint proud. The FSM is somewhat helpful but a bit vague too. I never worked on a cruise control before and not at all familiar with their anatomy. Thx again!

 

I'm trying to send a 13 second video I shot on my iPhone. It is a file type MP4. When I try to upload it to a post it says it wont accept that file type.

Anyone know how to remedy this? HY?

 

Create an account on some media hosting site, (youtube?) Upload your video there, than link/embed it here.

 

Well, I think I'll just post a couple of pix instead. I think I found a possible source of the fire. See pics below. I looked down the insulator on the back of the alternator where the cable (alt to PDC) stud mounts to the alternator and I see it is sparking about that stud/bolt well inside the insulator. Not continuous sparking but close to it. At least I know now why they have an insulator around that connection. Is this normal? I couldn't possibly tell you how long this sparking has been going on. Forever? Recently? No idea.

 

Looks kinda crusty..... I would be tempted to pull it, clean it up good, inspect the wire, and the crimp for the connector VERY closely, and if all looks good, put it back together. See if it quits sparking. (it really shouldn't be doing that.....)