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Need some help with a 1990 NA6 that keeps blowing its fuse for the parkers and dash lights.
I'm good with mechanical stuff, but electrics I'm not so good at.
Where do I start looking to narrow this down?
What's a good method of diagnosing where the short is? ie basic check this, then this, than that etc.

Thanks
Ross

Have you changed anything lately? New globes in the parking lights or any thing else?

aka_juffa wrote:Have you changed anything lately? New globes in the parking lights or any thing else?

Nope, had the car for 11 months, apart for an immobiliser/central locking system, professionally installed by PO 3 years ago, the car is stock.
Everything else seems to be working fine.

Aftermarket alarms/immobilisers etc can cause all sorts of electrical gremlins. In my experience they are not worth the hassle.

Nothing wrong with aftermarket security. All comes down to the quality of the install. If you didn't have issues before someone tinkered with your electrics, take it back.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Ok. I would remove the front parker/indicator covers (philips head screwdriver) and check the connections for corrosion, any wear on the wires where the plastic cover has worn and exposed the wires. Also, the globes are basic and pretty cheap, so I would replace both of them. In fact while you have the covers removed I would replace the indicator globes while you are there as well. This eliminates the cheap stuff.

You could also come to this event on this Sunday, and we can pull your car apart for you

Thanks, I'll have a play on the weekend.
Unfortunately it's not my car, it's my daughters. I do make her help with any work though and I get to "test drive" afterwards .
We replaced the shocks last weekend, good dad and daughter time

Ross wrote:Thanks, I'll have a play on the weekend.
Unfortunately it's not my car, it's my daughters. I do make her help with any work though and I get to "test drive" afterwards .
We replaced the shocks last weekend, good dad and daughter time

Good on ya Dad.

J.

Think that fuse is also for tail lights, so would be worth checking those as Juffa suggests for the fronts. Is stereo aftermarket, as some installations can become an issue. Also check/ clean earth points & general looseness of conections, which is becoming a common issue on the NAs.

no luck on the weekend
solved with a bigger (15A) fuse for the short term

I had problems with my dash light fade switch. Might be worth checking. Replaced the switch in mine.

Another problem I had initially with my NA was a loose connection on the plug on the rear of the hazard/pop up switch. A bent connector kept losing contact, then would blow a fuse when reconnected itself

Buy this book or get it from the library " how to diagnose automotive electrical systems by Tracy Martin". Problem will get solved- its very good.

Mr Morlock wrote:Buy this book or get it from the library " how to diagnose automotive electrical systems by Tracy Martin". Problem will get solved- its very good.

Don't even have to read it!? ... sorry, couldn't help myself ...

Buying stuff fixes everything, sometimes you don't even have to read or install it.
I had a dodgy starter motor in my old XF so I bought a reconditioned one. The original never played up again. Years later, the reconditioned starter was still in the boot when i got rid of the XF

Ross wrote:no luck on the weekend
solved with a bigger (15A) fuse for the short term

To clarify, is it the 'TAIL' fuse that keeps blowing? If so, in some markets this was 15A. This might be of interest:
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=288729