tonykof

Soon after I got my car (99 Coupe) the taillights & dash lights stopped working...After some reading on the forum I discovered I could use the twilight function to get around the problem which was more than likely the Multi-function switch. Okay, that worked fine for well over a year till last fall when it would start blowing the #6 fuse in the passenger side fuse box. I replaced the fuse & it would work for say 25 miles, then 10 miles then 5…
So Yesterday I finally tackled the Multi function switch, all went well took it apart & fixed it as per the instructions on the forum (bending taps to put more pressure on the contacts & cleaned up the contacts – I also had a contact arm that was bent so I straightened it, of course I was thinking Ah ha! that was the problem..) Anyway put it back in & turned on the lights & everything worked for about ½ a second & then it blew the #6 fuse…took it apart thinking maybe I did something wrong, checked it all over…put it back together…tried lights…blew fuse. Tried this till I was out of fuses.
Obviously there is a dead short somewhere. I’m not sure where to go from here…? My thoughts are to order a new multifunction switch & see if that fixes it?? Any ideas, suggestions? Thanks Tony

Jeff in Den

From your description of how it used to take 25 miles, then 10, etc, it sounds more like chaffing wires then the MFS. If you can find a schematic and post it, I'm sure a logical troubleshooting plan can be made. Quit putting fuses in and blowing them for now, if by chance you get a bad one, or a slow blow, you may find your problem quickly when the smoke appears.

tonykof

Geez I hope that's not what it is any idea where I would even start looking for possible chaffed wires? I'm thinking if i can find a good switch cheap enough I may try that first...?

doje

I had the same problem on my 2004. It turned out that when I had a trailer hitch installed (towing race tires) that the shop let my tail light wire lay on top of the hot exhaust. When the wires heated up, the fuse would blow. I'm sure that eventually the problem would have melted off the insulation - thus a progressive problem. Try checking along the exhaust system. It could be a lot of things, but I would start along the exhaust due to the aforementioned "time delay".

tonykof

Yeah it (fuse) pops now as soon as I turn them (the park/dash lamps) on with the switch...It was when I was using the twilight feature that i started getting a bit of a time delay..So maybe I "fixed" my multi-function switch and now I'm dealing with a completely different problem?
Maybe I should try starting the car with twilight turned back on & lights off & see if it pops...

dgrant3830

I would take the switch apart again and go over your work. It sounds like something got messed up in the process. There is a slider there that you don't want to put in backwards.

tonykof

You mean the one that controls the hi/low beam with the spring under it?

dgrant3830

I don't know what it controlled other than on mine, it could go in either direction. I don't remember a spring on it this moment but will take your word for it.

tonykof

Okay, tore it down & put a known good switch in just to make sure...still blowing fuse...obviously my problem is elsewhere..I imagine some sort of a short in the wiring...? has anyone experience this? Can anyone shoot me in the most logical direction?
Thanks Tony

I pulled the battery tray & checked out the butt load of wires & connectors there did not come up with a problem..unplugged/pugged in every connector just to be sure..

pluslt

Tony,

I had this exact same problem. Mine was a short in front turn signal lights, they're on the same #6 fuse. I had replaced them with LEDs and one of them went bad. Took those out and replaced them with the regular old bulbs and joila the problem went away. If that is not it, I would look at the plugs themselves. You can purchase replacements online for about $13 each.

Good luck.

FYI the driving lights on the front is what I meant. There are two lights in those housings. I don't know if the ones on the sides are on the same circuit as well or not.

tonykof

Thanks! I'll give that a shot sounds like a good place to start!

rclinton

I had the same problem with my 02. Check the turn signal lights as they can crack and collect water. Pull the bulbs out and then check the switch. My were pretty corroded cleaned them, fixed the problem and never looked back.