Help with electrical short isolation please
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 125
Likes: 7
From: Wake County NC
Help with electrical short isolation please
I bought a 1992 Corvette,about 2 weeks ago knowing it had issues.
It's all I could afford, and have wanted one for every and a day.
It just sits in my driveway until I can get it road worthy. Wanted to fix something small to get my feet wet.
I'm trying to isolate why the Outside Power Mirror / Cruise control fuse keeps blowing.
I changed out the fuse, the mirrors will work for a few time then trip the fuse just sitting in the driveway.
If it matters car does not have the original radio.
Any advice / direction you can point me in will be very appreciated.
I do have the FSM, but they are not the most user friendly thing I've read.
I'm not a wiz at this stuff and not a young kid, so please re-frame sarcasm and flames.
Thank you for your time.
It's all I could afford, and have wanted one for every and a day.
It just sits in my driveway until I can get it road worthy. Wanted to fix something small to get my feet wet.
I'm trying to isolate why the Outside Power Mirror / Cruise control fuse keeps blowing.
I changed out the fuse, the mirrors will work for a few time then trip the fuse just sitting in the driveway.
If it matters car does not have the original radio.
Any advice / direction you can point me in will be very appreciated.
I do have the FSM, but they are not the most user friendly thing I've read.
I'm not a wiz at this stuff and not a young kid, so please re-frame sarcasm and flames.
Thank you for your time.
Last edited by reg_255; Oct 18, 2014 at 08:49 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,406
Likes: 2,744
Which side mirror causes the fuse to blow OR it doesn't matter? I'd put in a fuse and limit the use of the switch to the left mirror and see if that blows the fuse using it randomly. If it does then replace the fuse and just use the right mirror randomly and see if that does also or doesn't. Don't alternate the sides just try using the switch selectively to see if you can isolate which. If the fuse blows by just using the mirror that's what I'd personally do.
Replace the fuse and leave the mirrors alone, does the cruise control work? Does the cruise control blow the fuse if you attempt to use it?
Replace the fuse and leave the mirrors alone, does the cruise control work? Does the cruise control blow the fuse if you attempt to use it?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 125
Likes: 7
From: Wake County NC
WVZR thanks for the quick reply.
I will try your suggestion, to see if it's one or the other that makes the fuse trip.
Car is not ready to be on the road, so I did not try the cruise control. I did notice the switch was in the on position. Will test with Cruise switch off.
Trying to do some small things first to get comfortable with tackling the major ones.
I don't have a garage and limited hand tools.
Wife has been unemployed 2 years and she was the bread winner.
I have a kid in 10th grade, so no money for a real mechanic.
I will try your suggestion, to see if it's one or the other that makes the fuse trip.
Car is not ready to be on the road, so I did not try the cruise control. I did notice the switch was in the on position. Will test with Cruise switch off.
Trying to do some small things first to get comfortable with tackling the major ones.
I don't have a garage and limited hand tools.
Wife has been unemployed 2 years and she was the bread winner.
I have a kid in 10th grade, so no money for a real mechanic.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 550
From: Mission Viejo CA
Trying to find a short circuit can be very frustrating. This job can be made a lot easier by making a simple tool.
Use an old good headlight bulb and an old blown fuse. Solder two wires to the top terminals of the fuse. Solder these two wires to the headlight.
Plug this thing into the suspect fuse location in your fuse panel. When you have a short circuit the headlight will shine bright but nothing will smoke or be damaged. If there is no short circuit, the light may glow, but the device will work normally. Try this out and let us know what you find.
Use an old good headlight bulb and an old blown fuse. Solder two wires to the top terminals of the fuse. Solder these two wires to the headlight.
Plug this thing into the suspect fuse location in your fuse panel. When you have a short circuit the headlight will shine bright but nothing will smoke or be damaged. If there is no short circuit, the light may glow, but the device will work normally. Try this out and let us know what you find.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 125
Likes: 7
From: Wake County NC
Hi all,
Well I tried to duplicate the problem today and of course to no avail
.
Fuse seems to be holding.
When the Cruise Control switch is in the on position, should there be a dash board indication?
Thanks,
Well I tried to duplicate the problem today and of course to no avail
.Fuse seems to be holding.
When the Cruise Control switch is in the on position, should there be a dash board indication?
Thanks,
