Fuse problem

Synchros shot? Weird noises while shifting? Not sure what needs to be replaced?
LHOswald
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 2787
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:46 pm
Cars: '99 Civic Hatch w/B16a
Location: Enfield, Connecticut

Fuse problem

Post by LHOswald »

some weird shit has been happening over the last few days with my brake light fuse. on sunday (yesterday) i didn't notice my fuse blew on my brake lights until a friend (the one with the mr2) was tailing me to another friends house and said my brake lights aren't working. i checked the fuse, and of course it was popped. no problem, for now ill just throw in the 15a from my cigarette lighter into my brake fuse location. today it popped again. i checked it out and having no 15a to replace both of them i put a 20a into my brake light location and a 15a into my cigarette lighter location (i know how stupid that was but i needed to get around and i didn't have the time to stop and check it out). after driving maybe for 30 minutes today i realized that the brake light one popped again. its spec'd to have a 15a in there and it popped a 20a. im amazed. i've never seen anything like it before and im wondering if its something as stupid as a bulb being burnt out, sending a surge back through the circuit and blowing the fuse. im sure some of the more mechanically inclined (watkins, THC, help me out here) will be able to help.
Image
User avatar
4onthefloor
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 1360
Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:21 pm
Cars: '17 WRX, '07 Impreza
Location: London, ON for now

Re: Fuse problem

Post by 4onthefloor »

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but could it be a wire shorting out?
Two pedals, two feet, too easy.

Car: 2007 Impreza 2.5i Special Edition
http://www.standardshift.com/forum/view ... 32&t=13230
User avatar
FDSpirit
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 6157
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 8:23 pm
Cars: 2000 Honda Civic Si
Location: Troy/Albany, NY
Contact:

Re: Fuse problem

Post by FDSpirit »

It's possible. It could be sending too much current to the fuse. Maybe the wire insulation is worn?
Last edited by FDSpirit on Mon May 10, 2010 9:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
2000 Honda Civic Si- Slightly faster than your grandmomma's grocery getter......slightly.
watkins
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 15880
Joined: Sun Jul 01, 2007 12:42 am
Cars: '08 Saab 9-5 Aero wagon
Location: Salem, MA

Re: Fuse problem

Post by watkins »

You have a short to power or something is drawing a lot more amperage than it should.
User avatar
4onthefloor
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 1360
Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:21 pm
Cars: '17 WRX, '07 Impreza
Location: London, ON for now

Re: Fuse problem

Post by 4onthefloor »

All I know is often on aircraft (I know I keep using A/C as reference but it's what I know) the insulation can be chafed off and the wire itself can come in contact with the airframe itself, causing a short. It can cause false warnings/ indications.
Two pedals, two feet, too easy.

Car: 2007 Impreza 2.5i Special Edition
http://www.standardshift.com/forum/view ... 32&t=13230
LHOswald
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 2787
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:46 pm
Cars: '99 Civic Hatch w/B16a
Location: Enfield, Connecticut

Re: Fuse problem

Post by LHOswald »

i was just hoping someone would tell me its something simple so i didnt have to rip the whole goddamn dash apart to get at everything. :(
Image
User avatar
AHTOXA
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 14693
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:31 pm
Cars: '19 4RUNNER TRD ORP
Location: Irving, TX

Re: Fuse problem

Post by AHTOXA »

I would be looking for a short as well. Start at the actual tail lights.
'19 Toyota 4Runner TRD ORP
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
User avatar
comingbackdown
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 7399
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:17 am
Cars: 99 Ram 2500, 86 Ford LTD
Location: Ohio
Contact:

Re: Fuse problem

Post by comingbackdown »

AHTOXA wrote:I would be looking for a short as well. Start at the actual tail lights.
You need to find out where the circuit runs, aka wiring diagram. Start at the lights, work your way back.
Image
1999 Ram 2500 4x4 360, 1986 Ford LTD 3.8L, 1983 Yamaha Venture Royale 1200
User avatar
FDSpirit
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 6157
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 8:23 pm
Cars: 2000 Honda Civic Si
Location: Troy/Albany, NY
Contact:

Re: Fuse problem

Post by FDSpirit »

comingbackdown wrote:
AHTOXA wrote:I would be looking for a short as well. Start at the actual tail lights.
You need to find out where the circuit runs, aka wiring diagram. Start at the lights, work your way back.
I was gonna say print out a WD, but looks like ya beat me to it. Let us know how it turns out.
2000 Honda Civic Si- Slightly faster than your grandmomma's grocery getter......slightly.
User avatar
theholycow
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 16021
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:36 pm
Cars: '80 Buick LeSabre 4.1 5MT
Location: Glocester, RI
Contact:

Re: Fuse problem

Post by theholycow »

+1 to everything said in here...it's a short and I wouldn't rip apart the dash until the rest of the wiring has been checked. Even then you shouldn't have to rip the dash open, I don't think.

Depending on how your stuff is wired you may want to check the brake light switch at the brake pedal.
1980 Buick LeSabre 4.1L 5MT

Put your car in your sig!

Learn to launch/FAQs/lugging/misused terms: meta-sig
watkins wrote:Humans have rear-biased AWD. Cows have 4WD
LHOswald
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 2787
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:46 pm
Cars: '99 Civic Hatch w/B16a
Location: Enfield, Connecticut

Re: Fuse problem

Post by LHOswald »

theholycow wrote:+1 to everything said in here...it's a short and I wouldn't rip apart the dash until the rest of the wiring has been checked. Even then you shouldn't have to rip the dash open, I don't think.

Depending on how your stuff is wired you may want to check the brake light switch at the brake pedal.
thats the first thing i checked. i took the brake lights off today to inspect them and they all seem fine. the wiring is fine. the wiring all the way back to the dash is wrapped and none of it looks even slightly damaged (which is amazing for how f*cked up the truck is). idk what to do
Image
User avatar
theholycow
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 16021
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:36 pm
Cars: '80 Buick LeSabre 4.1 5MT
Location: Glocester, RI
Contact:

Re: Fuse problem

Post by theholycow »

Visual checking doesn't do the job. You need to probe everything with a multimeter.
1980 Buick LeSabre 4.1L 5MT

Put your car in your sig!

Learn to launch/FAQs/lugging/misused terms: meta-sig
watkins wrote:Humans have rear-biased AWD. Cows have 4WD
User avatar
comingbackdown
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 7399
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:17 am
Cars: 99 Ram 2500, 86 Ford LTD
Location: Ohio
Contact:

Re: Fuse problem

Post by comingbackdown »

theholycow wrote:Visual checking doesn't do the job. You need to probe everything with a multimeter.
+1. Continuity checks all around.

Furthermore, wrapped wiring doesn't mean the insulation hasn't burned through from an overload and caused a short, doesn't rule out a broken wire, and moisture and varmints can do a huge amount of damage to wiring.

Could even be a bad factory splice. It happens, trust me.
Image
1999 Ram 2500 4x4 360, 1986 Ford LTD 3.8L, 1983 Yamaha Venture Royale 1200
LHOswald
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 2787
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:46 pm
Cars: '99 Civic Hatch w/B16a
Location: Enfield, Connecticut

Re: Fuse problem

Post by LHOswald »

when i checked the fuse inlet itself with a multimeter it didnt even register any amperage and maybe .2 volts. i should try another 15 amp fuse inlet and see what the consistency is for the amperage running through the other 15 slots.
Image
User avatar
comingbackdown
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 7399
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2007 3:17 am
Cars: 99 Ram 2500, 86 Ford LTD
Location: Ohio
Contact:

Re: Fuse problem

Post by comingbackdown »

LHOswald wrote:when i checked the fuse inlet itself with a multimeter it didnt even register any amperage and maybe .2 volts. i should try another 15 amp fuse inlet and see what the consistency is for the amperage running through the other 15 slots.
Continuity?
Image
1999 Ram 2500 4x4 360, 1986 Ford LTD 3.8L, 1983 Yamaha Venture Royale 1200
Post Reply