Hazard/Interior Lamp Troubles

[gema]

Above all else, I've searched and searched and actually have an original question.

Secondly,

Finally thought I had the problem cracked when I replaced the switch and flasher unit. Alas...I didn't solve it. Here's the background.

Hazards and interior lamps worked just fine about two months ago. During one of my many evenings spent fiddling with electronics, two things touched near/at/around the fuse box and made a lot of sparks, I freaked out, and disconnected the battery (forgot to that time). After that event, no hazards or room lamp/map lamp. My questions are:

1. Is there an inline fuse/breaker/relay in that circuit I could've blown? All the fuses in my fuse box have been replaced to no avail.

2. If not the above...what could be causing this?

Note: These are the only electrical problems the car has. I've already solved my sidemarker short and fixed the blower...hence the picture. Alas, it's almost done!!!!!!! Love my Z!

[gema]

*bump*

Wow...must've asked a real stumper. Enrique, where are ya when I need ya....

[ChrisA]

Hi Gema, did you check the flasher for the hazards? It is separate from the regular turn signal flasher. Its just a guess cuz I dont see how the hazard and the map lamp/room lamp are connected. They arc didnt blow the bulbs out of the lamps? That would be a stretch for sure but it could happen. You may have to take the center heater panel down, trace the wiring from the map lamp back and see if anything is burnt.

I had a fuse box that the fuse clips were so corroded that no juice would flow through the fuse. A good cleaning fixed things.

Keep testing.

Chris

[gema]

I replaced the flasher, as it was OLD as crap and just waiting to not work. I hadn't checked the bulbs for the interior lamps, but my turn signals still work (meaning my hazard lamps should too).

After looking at my wiring diagram in the FSM last night, I found a Blue/Red wire running from the map lamp, and it appears to touch the room lamp and some other bits...all of which are non-operational in my car. There also appears to be an inline 20A fuse. Can anyone point me to where this fuse is, in the car? Cause I know my Hazard Switch and Flasher are 100% operational, and using a bit of logic I can just assume they aren't getting power?

[ChrisA]

Originally posted by gema

I replaced the flasher, as it was OLD as crap and just waiting to not work. I hadn't checked the bulbs for the interior lamps, but my turn signals still work (meaning my hazard lamps should too).

Hey Gema, your turn signals are fired by a different flasher. Just because they work doesnt mean the hazards will work. On my 8 of 72 240 the hazard flasher is mounted on the right hand kick panel under the glove box. The turn signal flasher is by the steering column. Try finding the hazard flasher and checking it. I still think you have something blown or burnt up if the room lamps dont work.

Keep Testing

Chris

[ChrisA]

The hazard flasher is the cylinder right above the rectangular relay.

[gema]

I replaced that one yesterday to no avail. What is the plug-style fuse box, and would that relay happen to be the "Accesory Relay" on my wiring diagram? What I meant by the turn signals working was that the bulbs themselves illuminate, so I didn't short them out. So does anyone know where that 20A fuse is???? Thanks Chris for the help, I'll bet we (being the community) can knock this out.

[ChrisA]

Hey Nate, that fuse box is an aftermarket Painless Wiring kit that powers my stereo and electric fuel pump. Real easy to install.

Anyway, yes that rectangular relay is the Accesory relay. If that is bad I think you'd have no power inside the car. But I've never had one fail on six Z's.

The 20 amp fuse is tucked in behind the center heater panel. There were two of them one my car wrapped in blue tape. Might be a good idea to check on yours as I dont remember what they were for. I replaced mine with the newer style push in fuses like in the picture I attached. I thought one was for the stock radio but without my wiring diagram in front of me I'm not sure. I will dig the diagram out tonite after work and see if I can help you. Did you happed to flip over the fuse box on yours and see if everything was ok?

Keep testing!!

Chris

[gema]

One of mine (power to the blower) was cut by the PO, I haven't a clue why, but I figured it out and returned the power on its proper path...and my blower works. The other one I still haven't found, but I think it's for the radio. I looked under the fusebox (mine is pretty clean on the underside), but the connections on top are a little gross...not so much that it wouldn't conduct, however. I still have dash lights (except the ones with burned out bulbs)...yuck. Could a dying turn signal stalk cause this? Mine still works, but it definitely feels like it's on its way out.

[TomoHawk]

The hazards circuit comes of fthe fusebox, and is always hot- no relay involved .

[gema]

Okay...

So I have a Hazard Switch I know to work for a fact, a brand new Hazard Flasher, and the fuse is not blowing (and power is running through it, around 10-11v). If there is no relay for it to blow...please don't say the wiring is toast, pleeeeease don't say the wiring is toast. I got under the dash (resting my head on th ebrake pedal, I'm sure we've all done that) and shined the light around...no smokey looking connectors, no melted wires that I can see. So confusing!!

[TomoHawk]

'Check if your circuyit is shorted to ground. One side of the fuse goes to the battery (+12V), and the other side should not have a connection to ground. if it did, it would keep the things from working. Check for continuity to ground. with the switches off, door closed.