More electrical problems

[geordieggg]

After sorting out the EFI problems I had previously, got the car back together and all was well.

Latest problem that's just developed is the fuse for tail/dash lights keeps blowing. Anyone have any pointers on where to start looking? Everything seemed fine Thursday night, cars been out once and came back with the negative terminal of the battery sitting on the manifold, but this shouldn't cause any issues, should it? Theoretically, it should only be acting as another earth, correct? When I first turn the lights on, you can see the volt gauge drop right down until the fuse blows.

Had a check the other night, using a multi meter. It's earthing out at the tail and park lights, and also at the switch, with the battery disconnected. Looking at the wiring diagram I have, the only way this can happen is if the fuse box itself is earthing out, which is a possibility, as everything was working fine until I put the whole car back together (centre console, all interior trim etc).

Here's what I've done so far:

Removed all tail & park lights - were working fine prior to car being put back together

Removed stereo - wired in by a previous owner

Removed alarm - wired in by myself

Removed fuse box - no change, everything still earthing

Removed any other wire I've touched - no change

unplugged the alternator & starter - no change

It's earthing through the tial & park light sockets, the combination switch (one of the two green wires and the thick white/red trace wire), the fusible link in the engine bay, as well as various places inside the car.

Before I have to do something as bad as removing the dash, anyone got any ideas on where to look?

To clear a couple of things up, everything was fine when everything was hooked back up, just not in place. Checked all the lights and indicators etc before putting all the interior trim & centre console etc back in (that's with the alarm and stereo etc all in and working properly). After putting all that back in, it was all working ok, until one night I went to move the car back into the garage and the fuse went.

With the battery disconnected, I'm getting a closed circuit through some of the main wires to the switch and the fuse box when I check resistance with a multi meter, which is where I assume the problem is. This is checking with everything removed (alarm, stereo etc), so I don't think it is the alarm or the stereo or anything I've hooked up causing the problem.

Looking at the wiring diagram I have, the only thing I can think of is either the wiper motor is shorting out or it's something called an "Amp assembly" - what this does I have no idea.............

[SteveJ]

Go to the search page and type in the following words: fuse box melt

Read through the responses. The problem with the running lights & dash lights is common.

[geordieggg]

Cool, thanks for that, never knew that it was such a common fault.