directional fuse is blowing
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
directional fuse is blowing
ok heres the problem: my fuse for my directionals and reverse lights keeps blowing out. Every time the car is put into reverse the directionals do not work anymore the fuse for the directionals blows and I have to get out of the car go to the passenger side door and replace the fuse in the fuse box.
This happens everytime. I thought I fixed it before after I replaced the reverse light bulb by the license plate and one socket where the bulb went was corroded. I sat in the car and put it into reverse about 40 times and nothing happened the directionals all worked fine.
But now its back to blowing the fuse everytime. I dont know if it is a bad ground or something else. the car is a 91 coupe auto
Thanks for any help in advance
This happens everytime. I thought I fixed it before after I replaced the reverse light bulb by the license plate and one socket where the bulb went was corroded. I sat in the car and put it into reverse about 40 times and nothing happened the directionals all worked fine.
But now its back to blowing the fuse everytime. I dont know if it is a bad ground or something else. the car is a 91 coupe auto
Thanks for any help in advance
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Bad grounds open a circuit and won't allow current to flow, so this is not your problem. Wires that have 12v on them and have frayed, chaffed insulation can touch ground which is a short circuit and the current flow is so high it blows out fuses or fusable links. Check Brian's post: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=2073797
You need to follow the wire from the reverse switch all the way back to the backup light and look for abraded insulation and particularly where the wire goes through any holes punched into metal parts.
You need to follow the wire from the reverse switch all the way back to the backup light and look for abraded insulation and particularly where the wire goes through any holes punched into metal parts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
wires
and since these are plastic/fiberglass cars, I'd start at each end and work in to where I couldn't follow the wires any farther.
There is an old adage, let see if I can get it right.
start at the fuse first, then go to what wiggles next, then go to the ends of the wires and work backwards.
There is an old adage, let see if I can get it right.
start at the fuse first, then go to what wiggles next, then go to the ends of the wires and work backwards.
Last edited by coupeguy2001; Jul 10, 2008 at 12:49 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
The fuse is before the switch, and since the fuse only blows when the reverse switch is activated, then you know the short circuit is AFTER the switch. You need only trace the wire after the switch and going to the lamp. Only the body in the Corvette is fiberglass and I don't know of any wires going through the body. There are plenty of metal bulkheads that wires go through a punched hole and there is where a short circuit is likely.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 424
Likes: 0
ok so i looked under the car when it was on the lift and looked for any problems going through the metal and could not find anything. There was no stripped wire or anything that i could see. The problem is still there and it is driving me crazy. Is there any way I could cut the wire off the reverse switch from the transmission and just not have reverse lights but still have directional lights?
just an idea thanks
just an idea thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 0
From: :45 minutes from everywhere / E-I-E-I-O
Mr jfb told you everything you have to do:
The fault is AFTER the reverse switch. Follow the wire from the switch at the tranny, ALL THE WAY TO THE REVERSE BULBS.
Don't believe it? Pull the connector to the tranny's b/u switch, then put it in reverse - the fuse WON'T burn. Still don't believe it? Jump the entire length of harness from the switch voltage input to the reverse bulbs - again, the fuse won't (shouldn't) blow (if it does, you found the problem area). You said it happens every time, so there could be no easier diagnostic aid.
Don't forget to FIRST test the switch itself - disconnect the connector to it, and jump the switch's connector with a piece of wire to see if that trips the fuse.
You need to follow the wire from the reverse switch all the way back to the backup light and look for abraded insulation and particularly where the wire goes through any holes punched into metal parts.
Don't believe it? Pull the connector to the tranny's b/u switch, then put it in reverse - the fuse WON'T burn. Still don't believe it? Jump the entire length of harness from the switch voltage input to the reverse bulbs - again, the fuse won't (shouldn't) blow (if it does, you found the problem area). You said it happens every time, so there could be no easier diagnostic aid.
Don't forget to FIRST test the switch itself - disconnect the connector to it, and jump the switch's connector with a piece of wire to see if that trips the fuse.
Last edited by schrade; Jul 16, 2008 at 11:01 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 3
From: Oxford CT
I have a problem like that but easier for me to deal with. I blow my rear tail lights if I put the lights on with my steering wheel up. Therefore I leave my steering wheel in the down position all the time.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 755
Likes: 32
From: Roswell Georgia
Could be a light socket problem?
I had a similar problem a while back with my '89. It turned out to be located inside the bulb socket where the grounding spring tab had broken off and slide down to the bottom of the socket thereby grounding out the bulb and blowing the fuse every time the light was activated. My solution only required replacing the old bulb socket with a new one. You might be experiencing a similar situation.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 0
From: :45 minutes from everywhere / E-I-E-I-O
You need to find that and fix it. If something else in the column gets chafed open, power could get exposed to another circuit which could be an expensive waste.
