Electrical Short

Ok, I know this is a long shot.

But I've got a short somewhere. Keeps blowing fuses in the #8 slot. According to the manual that's courtesy lamps, key buzzer, lighted entry, glove box LP?, radio memory, cluster memory and clock.

I hit a bump on the highway and that's when this started. Power locks also went dead, but they're on Fuse 12 with the power seat (which works fine).

Radio barely works: lights in face work, no reception, tape deck is fine.

Been looking for the problem but haven't found it yet. At this point, I'm hoping one of you have had a similar problem so I can narrow it down.

Thanks!

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86 TC 3" Exhaust w/ Cat, 17 psi, 1.5" lower, Vovlo intercooler, Saab 900 cooling system
73 Austin Mini 1275

You know, I've had that same problem with my '86 TC, and it went away when I replaced the fuse. However, as soon as I tried to pull codes through the EATC, the same fuse blew again. I just don't mess with it, and it's been fine since. Is yours just blowing by itself, or do you do something in particular each time it blows?

Rick

I had the same problem when my clock died. I replaced the clock and the problem went away.

Carl

cool thanks

yeah, it blows as soon as you replace the fuse

I gave up on that after I blew all the spare 15's I had

Here's some more info:

Shortly before this, the dash light dimmer broke. Dash lights stay on full, but will not dim or shut off. Also, right before the dimmer broke, the dome light would only come on if you turned the dimmer dial all the way up and got it in exactly the right spot.

I'm wondering if the dimmer switch shorted out, causing this fuse to blow? (since this is the same circuit as the interior light, clock, etc)

Well, off to the junkyard on saturday. Will grab a clock and a headlight switch and see if those cure the problem.

Thanks,
Phil

We have extremely weird headlight switches- I had mine go when I put in my aftermarket radio. They can cause alot of problems.

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Originally posted by philS:
...Shortly before this, the dash light dimmer broke. Dash lights stay on full, but will not dim or shut off. Also, right before the dimmer broke, the dome light would only come on if you turned the dimmer dial all the way up and got it in exactly the right spot...

I think you're on the right track there. Obviously, the dimmer's not working and is now shorted to -0- ohms. Grab one of those from the j/y, too.

oh, my bad [Image: rolleyes.gif]

I thought the headlight switch and dimmer was a one-piece deal

well, I'll grab both just in case (headlight switch is bound to crap out eventually)

Thanks,
Phil

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86 TC 3" Exhaust w/ Cat, 17 psi, 1.5" lower, Vovlo intercooler, Saab 900 cooling system
73 Austin Mini 1275

Junkyard switch from a Lincoln MKVII fixed the problem.

Power locks work now, too. Manual said they were a separate circuit, but they seem to be affected by this one.