RHDgalantVR4
Well-known member
so for no reason all of a sudden I am blowing 10amp taillight fuses like crazy never had this problem before. Noticed that the fuse block under hood is getting hot as I have never had this problem maby this is normal?
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electrical issue (Tail light fuse under hood)
- Thread starterRHDgalantVR4
- Start date
Andy_S
Well-known member
There is a short. Check the bulbs out first, then move on if everything looks good there. Maybe some insulation rubbed off somewhere.
RHDgalantVR4
Well-known member
so I put a 15amp fuse in for a short time (no pun intended) and wala smoke in the car. Faulty dimmer switch!! Now i need to find out if USDM ans JDM are the same anyone know?
RHDgalantVR4
Well-known member
anyone?
gtluke
Well-known member
unplug the 3rd brake light, retry. There is a connector on the left side under the speaker area thingy. It's the weird looking wire sheathed in plastic.
toybreaker
iconoclast
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2006
- Messages
- 3,581
Since the issue is with the parking light circuit, and the magic smoke came out of the dimmer area 'o life...
... I'd start there ...
The tailights and instrument panel lights share the same fuse.
It's quite likely your problem is in the gauge/illumination area of the circuit, given the fact that the dimmer went up in smoke.
Got any boost, egt, or other gauge illumination circuits tapped into the instrument panel lighting circuit?
Made any changes to the wiring there recently?
Unplug the dimmer rheostat, and put a ten amp fuse back in the circuit, and do a light check.
If the fuse survives this test, the issue is in the instrument panel illumination circuit. I would start checking anything aftrmarket first, and then just start checking the harness and bulbs that are controlled by the dimmer. You'll probably see a wire that's all crinkly/wrinkly, that's the one that's been carrying all the current. Follow it to the end and you've probably found the problem.
If the fuse pops immediately when you power up the light, you'll have to check deeper into the rest of the tailight circuit.
edit never subsitute a higher fuse rating to troubleshoot a circuit!
You're lucky if all you fried was the dimmer.
I've seen whole wiring harnesses get smoked playing fast and loose with the fuse ratings. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bawling.gif
don't do it
... I'd start there ...
The tailights and instrument panel lights share the same fuse.
It's quite likely your problem is in the gauge/illumination area of the circuit, given the fact that the dimmer went up in smoke.
Got any boost, egt, or other gauge illumination circuits tapped into the instrument panel lighting circuit?
Made any changes to the wiring there recently?
Unplug the dimmer rheostat, and put a ten amp fuse back in the circuit, and do a light check.
If the fuse survives this test, the issue is in the instrument panel illumination circuit. I would start checking anything aftrmarket first, and then just start checking the harness and bulbs that are controlled by the dimmer. You'll probably see a wire that's all crinkly/wrinkly, that's the one that's been carrying all the current. Follow it to the end and you've probably found the problem.
If the fuse pops immediately when you power up the light, you'll have to check deeper into the rest of the tailight circuit.
edit never subsitute a higher fuse rating to troubleshoot a circuit!
You're lucky if all you fried was the dimmer.
I've seen whole wiring harnesses get smoked playing fast and loose with the fuse ratings. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bawling.gif
don't do it
Last edited:
RHDgalantVR4
Well-known member
pulled the 15 put 10 took dimmer out of the mix no more issues. Dash lights don't work without the dimmer in the loop. Tail lights and everything else still works fine.
toybreaker
iconoclast
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2006
- Messages
- 3,581
There ya go, now you know where to look /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
