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clock/Lighter/Courtesy fuse problem

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Old Jan 26, 2015 | 10:47 PM
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Default clock/Lighter/Courtesy fuse problem

Hello all!! My Clock/Lighter/Courtesy fuse blows immediately when I put a new one in. I took the center gauges out, I took the speedo cluster out, I disconnected the lighter. It still blows. In my owner's manual it says that this fuse controls the clock, lighter, courtesy, anti-theft alarm, glove box, and dome. I checked the under dash lights and the dome light and things look fine. My interior is completely out of the car including carpet so I am trying to get this done before i put the under carpet insulation in. All help is appreciated!! Thanks in advance!!
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Old Jan 26, 2015 | 11:11 PM
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Sounds like you need to trace some wires. Something is grounding or touching another wire. Wish I could wave a wand but this might be tedious to do.
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Old Jan 26, 2015 | 11:54 PM
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Originally Posted by mtnance
Sounds like you need to trace some wires. Something is grounding or touching another wire. Wish I could wave a wand but this might be tedious to do.


Get an ohm meter (most voltmeter have an ohm setting) to measure the resistance from the fuse wire to ground. Try to unhook everything connected (remove/disconnect clock, lighter, dome bulb, courtesy light, glove box light and anti-theft module).

If resistance still low you need to trace the wires and physically find the short. If resistance is high with everything off, put them back one at a time to find the bad device.

A light bulb might draw say 1 amp, that means a nominal resistance of 12 ohms. Shorts typically read near zero ohms.
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Old Jan 27, 2015 | 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by VETTE N ME
Hello all!! My Clock/Lighter/Courtesy fuse blows immediately when I put a new one in. I took the center gauges out, I took the speedo cluster out, I disconnected the lighter. It still blows. In my owner's manual it says that this fuse controls the clock, lighter, courtesy, anti-theft alarm, glove box, and dome. I checked the under dash lights and the dome light and things look fine. My interior is completely out of the car including carpet so I am trying to get this done before i put the under carpet insulation in. All help is appreciated!! Thanks in advance!!
Did you check the dome light timer? If not, unplug it and see if the problem goes away.

Early 78


Late 78-82
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Old Jan 27, 2015 | 03:33 PM
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Unplugged it still happens
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Old Jan 27, 2015 | 06:26 PM
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Could it be within the anti-theft system. My door locks are not in my doors. Is there wires inside the doors?
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Old Jan 27, 2015 | 07:35 PM
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Originally Posted by VETTE N ME
Could it be within the anti-theft system. My door locks are not in my doors. Is there wires inside the doors?
Nope..

I think if you go over this list you'll find your wire.. I traced the entire orange wire circuit tonight to see if I could figure it out... Have you looked at the spare tire lamp.

Here are the items (unless I missed one and if i did, someone feel free to post in).

LH COURTESY LAMP
RH COURTESY LAMP
Glove box lamp
Dome lamp
Spare tire lamp
Anti Theft Relay
Anti theft horn engine compartment.
courtesy lamp timer.
Clock

Good luck.. there is a 1981 timer circuit trace on my web site you can up load under Repair and install help.. it might help you but it's way different than the 78.
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Old Jan 27, 2015 | 09:27 PM
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On my 79 you can add:

Power Door Locks
Power Antenna
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Old Jan 27, 2015 | 10:52 PM
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This was laying inside my driver's door just laying there.
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Old Jan 27, 2015 | 10:57 PM
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car alarm, anti theft protector switch and control arming switch. goes on the key door lock.
http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/tune.../index24.shtml

Last edited by speedreed8; Jan 27, 2015 at 10:59 PM.
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Old Jan 28, 2015 | 02:03 AM
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Like Willcox said....Also......There was a recall on the storage light that I read about. Techs accidentally connected the two wires to the light in "reverse",,,,the ground went to the bulb positive contact/the 12vpositive was connected to the socket ground terminal/eventually something would cause a direct short that never blew the fuse because of the long run of wire....which explains why that sub-harness in my '68 car was fried from the light almost to the dash.

Please keep your battery disconnected until you find the short.
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Old Jan 29, 2015 | 11:26 AM
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Rodney, Check the glove box light. Make sure the screw that holds the light cover on the right side hasn't been installed threading its way through the wires for the light.
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Old Jan 29, 2015 | 12:37 PM
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Originally Posted by HBZ_81_C3
Rodney, Check the glove box light. Make sure the screw that holds the light cover on the right side hasn't been installed threading its way through the wires for the light.
Hey John. I don't see my glove box light but I see the switch for it
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Old Jan 29, 2015 | 01:23 PM
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Originally Posted by VETTE N ME
Hey John. I don't see my glove box light but I see the switch for it
There are six screws that hold the glove box into the dash. 2 upper, 2 lower and 1 on each side. On the right side, the screw also has a small metal plate that is the cover for the light bulb and socket. If you pull the glove box out you will see what I'm talking about. Check the wires for the light to see if the glove box screw has been threaded through them.
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Old Jan 29, 2015 | 06:32 PM
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Originally Posted by HBZ_81_C3
There are six screws that hold the glove box into the dash. 2 upper, 2 lower and 1 on each side. On the right side, the screw also has a small metal plate that is the cover for the light bulb and socket. If you pull the glove box out you will see what I'm talking about. Check the wires for the light to see if the glove box screw has been threaded through them.
I do not see a light. Does the bulb fit in back of the switch itself? My interior was already all apart when I bought the car.

Last edited by VETTE N ME; Jan 29, 2015 at 06:35 PM.
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Old Jan 30, 2015 | 10:55 AM
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Originally Posted by VETTE N ME
I do not see a light. Does the bulb fit in back of the switch itself? My interior was already all apart when I bought the car.
Yes
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Old Jan 30, 2015 | 10:34 PM
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Default Solved!!! Sort of

Well I got a set of test leads and hook them up to the fuse slot and then to a 12volt light. The light came on and I then started unplugging things that looked suspect. I unplugged this and the light went off!!

NOW I NEED TO KNOW WHAT RELAY IS THIS? THE FUSE NO LONGER BLOWS, SO COULD THIS RELAY BE THE PROBLEM?

Last edited by VETTE N ME; Jan 31, 2015 at 05:50 AM.
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To clock/Lighter/Courtesy fuse problem

Old Jan 31, 2015 | 06:21 AM
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It's the power antenna relay. Are these problematic or could there be a short somewhere after the relay?
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Old Jan 31, 2015 | 07:56 AM
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At the relay, try disconnected the the other plug (it goes out to the antenna) and reconnecting the plug that you have removed.

For reference, if you do need to remove the antenna itself, the connector on my 79 is accessed by removing the left rear speaker.

For further reference, to test the antenna on my 79:
Antenna up = Green +, Grey -
Antenna down = Green -, White +
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Old Jan 31, 2015 | 01:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Jet Tech
At the relay, try disconnected the the other plug (it goes out to the antenna) and reconnecting the plug that you have removed.

For reference, if you do need to remove the antenna itself, the connector on my 79 is accessed by removing the left rear speaker.

For further reference, to test the antenna on my 79:
Antenna up = Green +, Grey -
Antenna down = Green -, White +
Well when I disconnected the other plug fuse was good. Plugged it back in an it popped the fuse. The antenna itself was unplugged. So there is a short in the wiring after the relay.
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