No parking or dash lights, fuse blown

Ross · Postby **Ross** » Fri May 31, 2013 12:30 pm

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

aka_juffa · Postby **aka_juffa** » Fri May 31, 2013 12:47 pm

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

Ross · Postby **Ross** » Fri May 31, 2013 12:55 pm

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.

Muzdaman · Postby **Muzdaman** » Fri May 31, 2013 1:17 pm

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

Locutus · Postby **Locutus** » Fri May 31, 2013 1:43 pm

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

aka_juffa · Postby **aka_juffa** » Fri May 31, 2013 1:43 pm

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

Ross · Postby **Ross** » Fri May 31, 2013 2:32 pm

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

aka_juffa · Postby **aka_juffa** » Fri May 31, 2013 3:34 pm

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.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Fri May 31, 2013 4:21 pm

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.

Ross · Postby **Ross** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 6:08 pm

no luck on the weekend :cry:

solved with a bigger (15A) fuse for the short term :roll:

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 6:45 pm

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

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 8:05 pm

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.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 8:31 pm

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!? :mrgreen:

... sorry, couldn't help myself ...

Ross · Postby **Ross** » Tue Jun 04, 2013 10:09 am

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 :lol:

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Tue Jun 04, 2013 11:49 am

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