fuse problem
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 988
Likes: 1
From: Dyersburg TN
fuse problem
Guys , I've got a fuse problem , my turn signal / back up light blows as soon as I hook the battery up , new wiring harnesses thru out. Can this fuse also include the back up switch at the gear selector? or just the back up lights ? The fact that the fuse blows as soon as the battery is hooked up does that indicate anything speical? I did a search and there seems to be some threads about the turn signal switch or the wire harness on the tilt column , anyone had this problem or fix? Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,731
Likes: 22
From: Marietta Ga.
You would have to check the wiring diagram to see what is behind the fuse. it seems you have a short(hot wire making direct contack with ground somewhere that's drawing too much current. Could be defect in the switch or the new harness, could be harness got screw into it , or just got smashed between two metal parts somewhere. You will have to try to trace it out. You might try disconnecting at the steering column, bridge a hot lead to the correct wire to provide power to backup lights and see if they light or a new fuse blows, if it does, then problem is outside of it, if not, take test light and bridge hot lead from column to the same wire to backup lights and see if it then blows, problem is in switch or column. Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Connecticut
I pinched the steering column wire under the column bracket, it's easy to do. Instant fuse blow means a direct short to ground, something's pinched hard. You just have to look for it. Joe
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 988
Likes: 1
From: Dyersburg TN
I remembered the back half of the car's wiring is connected to a junction below the dash , it didn't stop the problem pulling the plug on the rear wiring , so I now think the steering column/ trn signal must be the problem , only thing is it's only blowing the fuse when the key is engaging the ignition , so I think I must of had the key in the on position the other night , any way to test the trn sig switch w/out removing it from the column? I'm headed to corvettfaq to see what I can learn.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: coon rapids mn
todbo, when you put the new harness in the car did the turn signal wires run by the wiper motor? the guy i bought the car from just replaced the motor and he said the turn signals worked fine before that?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 988
Likes: 1
From: Dyersburg TN
the turn sig wires are part of the harness on the column , seems to be some problems with the wires on the tilt/tele columns , from what I can remember the wiper motor is part of the engine harness and the trn sig are part of the main harness (different sides of the firewall).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 971
Likes: 7
From: roanoke va
unplug the turn sig. switch under the dash. it is a long connector with a bunch of wires. that will let you know if the short is before the switch or after the switch. the key switch will still work it has a different switch on top of the column.
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Tucson
I had the same problem last month, after spending months redoing my 73. I assume you dropped the steering column, so the pinched wires Joe mentioned was also mentioned to me. Since I'm not an electric wiz, I did the following:
1) Changed out the flasher unit located under the map pocket.
2) Replaced all of the rear bulbs, using contact cleaner on the bulb receptacles, before installing the new bulbs.
3) dropped the steering column again, ruffled the harness wires the best I could. I testing the system before bolting the steering column back in place.
Which one worked? Who knows, maybe just my lucky day.
A mechanic friend of mine mentioned one other possibility. A part inside the column, related to the turn signal my be broken inside. This can also cause these symptoms. Again, luckily I didn't have to go there.
Good luck.
Randy
1) Changed out the flasher unit located under the map pocket.
2) Replaced all of the rear bulbs, using contact cleaner on the bulb receptacles, before installing the new bulbs.
3) dropped the steering column again, ruffled the harness wires the best I could. I testing the system before bolting the steering column back in place.
Which one worked? Who knows, maybe just my lucky day.
A mechanic friend of mine mentioned one other possibility. A part inside the column, related to the turn signal my be broken inside. This can also cause these symptoms. Again, luckily I didn't have to go there.
Good luck.
Randy