alanwu07

iTrader: (5)

Yesterday, my dash lights started to mess up. The back parking lights also went out. I wasn't really concerned as I had plenty of 15 amp fuses at home and I just popped another one in and it worked out fine.

Unfortunately, it didn't stop there. It went on to blow another 4 fuses before the end of the day. It seems to occur when I hit a higher RPM range. Any suggestions as to what I should check for first in my whole electrical system? Something must be causing this and not just a one time thing, obviously.

alanwu07

iTrader: (5)

I made a mistake, it is NOT the METER 15A fuse that's blowing out. It's the Tail fuse (also 15A) that's blowing out. For some reason, this fuse blowing out causes the instrumental cluster to lose lighting. The needles still all work fine it's just the lighting on the instrument cluster and the back parking lights.

Now, when I try to replace the tail fuse with newer 15amp fuses, it just blows out. What should I check for? Anyone?

Brent Dalton

iTrader: (31)

bump for alanwu07... any of you electrical guys have any insight?

moosejaw

iTrader: (6)

Might be the realy that goes bad?
Have you tried replacing it? its at the front in the big box by your radiator.

LikeThunda

iTrader: (1)

u must have a short somewhere.... i had same issue...aswell as some friends of mine... check all ur wiring make sure none of it is (stripped)/ touching Metal...

LikeThunda

iTrader: (1)

also, there should be a Dim Control Box somewhere.. heard some capacitors blow ,and have to be resoldered

AzEKnightz

iTrader: (24)

Seems like your having a high current draw in your brake lighting circuit.

1 question, what work have you recently performed on your vehicle?

Second, pull up the braking light wiring diagram and see if the dash lighting is on the same circuit as the brake light circuit.

Then, you can isolate the problem to see if the dash lighting problem is related to the braking light problem.

Do you know how to read wiring diagrams? Just wanted to ask because it is okay to say No i dont rather than just asking for idea. Admit it and people will be more than happy to help out a guy who's trying to work on his car rather than have someone else fixes the problem for you.

AzEKnightz

iTrader: (24)

Just checked the wiring diagram for you. Looking at the diagram, the parking brake light is on the same circuit as the instrument cluster lighting. That's why when you parking light is out, the instrument cluster lighting also out.

AzEKnightz

iTrader: (24)

question for you, have your tried putting an 20Amp fuse in the circuit and see what happens? If it blows the 20A, you might have a very big current draw from the circuit whenever you operates. However from what you are telling me, the fuse ONLY happens in higher rpms. That made me think you might have a surge and blows the fuse out.

Hopefully this can be helpful =]

-AzEKnightz

p.s. Does it blow RIGHT away when you put in a new fuse or ONLY when you are in higher rpms? I just wanted to clarify that. If you are blowing fuses left and right immediately after replacing with a new fuse. You have a short. Let us know.

LikeThunda

iTrader: (1)

^^ nice Diagram.

AzEKnightz

iTrader: (24)

got it from alldata =). I have access to alldata and Mitchells because I am currently working at the shop. (Bridgeway Auto Repair)

LikeThunda

iTrader: (1)

wow, thats pretty cool.... that must be superhandy.... well, when in need of some Electrical work...

alanwu07

iTrader: (5)

Hi, thanks SO much for reading the diagram. And no, I don't know how to read the diagrams so I'm glad you could inform me. I have checked the TNS relay in the front and that one is fine.

As for when it blows out, this is happening basically as soon as I put it in and turn on the lights now. It's almost instantaneous. I did try a 20A fuse and that blows right away too.

AzEKnightz

iTrader: (24)

Alright Alan, it is now confirmed that you have a short in the circuit.

So have you done anything to the lighting system? Sound system? Reason I ask is if you performed so work and had accidentally tapped into 1 of the parking brake light circuit and grounding it will causes your fuse to be blown when you put a new fuse in there.

-AzEKnightz

alanwu07

iTrader: (5)

I haven't performed any work in the electrical system at all since I got the car. The only thing I've done recently was last week when I changed the oil and flushed the coolant and I'm sure that's got nothing to do with it. The reason I'm so confused is because it suddenly did this, not after I did any changes to my car in particular. How would I go about checking for shorts?

LikeThunda

iTrader: (1)

yeah, well from experience... My Dimmer was Shorting out and blowing my Fuses..

alanwu07

iTrader: (5)

So essentially, remove gauge cluster, remove center console and then remove center panel to get to that dimmer switch right? What should I be checking for when I'm there?

LikeThunda

iTrader: (1)

lol..no i dont think its the switch itself.... i experienced this in a 240...the Dimmer Control Box was under the Kick Panel..they were two separate components... the Dim switch.. and the actual box that controlled it..

alanwu07

iTrader: (5)

I just went to check it out again. I replaced the fuse and checked the wiring around the dash. I turned the lights on without starting the car. Voila, the fuse doesn't blow out. I start the car, still fine. I have the car in neutral and I rev it a bit to see if I can replicate the other times that it has blown out. I even turn the lights on and off a lot of times to see if it could put any stress on the system. The fuse still doesn't blow out. I then decided to pull out and drive around to see. I put it into reverse and as soon as I'm completely off the clutch and moving back at a reasonable pace, the fuse blows out. Any ideas?

LikeThunda

iTrader: (1)

are your dash lights going out as well? and the taillights..?....

(note) Tail Lights still work when you hit the breaks..but when u turn on Guage Cluster LIghts..they do not,

?

alanwu07

iTrader: (5)

Here's what happens when the fuse goes out:

1) instrument cluster lights and center panel lights (lights for A/C controls and that whole area) go out, meaning when I put the light switch into parking or low beams, the cluster and center panel lights don't work.
2) tail lights go out and in the same way as the cluster lights.
3) the brake lights still work so in each lighting setting, the brake lights still come on when I step on the brakes.
4) the reverse lights probably don't work. My parking garage is dark and I can usually see the reverse lights reflected on the wall behind me when I'm backing out but I can't now.

LikeThunda

iTrader: (1)

ok,, u are experiencing the same exact things i did..and a few other friends of mine..

in my Friends FC.i think it was as easy as replacing the Fuse.... hmmm im not sure if he did anything else to it...

alanwu07

iTrader: (5)

Well, that's the problem. I've gone through like 10 fuses. I have a whole box of like hundreds of them and I just kept switching them because I didn't want to get pulled over. So it must be something in the system, I just don't know what to check.

alanwu07

iTrader: (5)

Any ideas??

Gen2n3

iTrader: (1)

i had a problem when my meter fuse blew. As it turned out, there was a relay connector that shorted between two leads. I had to shine a light behind the connector to see it. Basically, the plastic dividing wall melted and caused a short. If you search for METER FUSE, you will see my posts.

There could be a few problem areas to check. First, I would disconnect your reverse light switch. It is located on the transmission, driver side. Check to see if your fuse blows. If it doesn't, replace that switch.

Then I would inspect the fan control relays next to your air intake. Disconnect all relays from harness and shine a light behind each connector on the harness. You are looking for any abnormal positions of the wire contacts. If it appears they touch, then that is your culprit. I spliced a replacement connector from another club member. You may see some gunk inside these connectors so using some electrical cleaning spray will help. You can get it at local autoparts store or Wal-Mart, etc.

I would also disconnect JB-02 connector, after looking at this diagram. By disconnecting it, you isolate your tail lights wiring from your dash lighting. You may or may not have dash lighting once this is done. If your TAIL fuse still blows, at least you can trace it further back within the tail light diagram.

I hope this helps and keep us posted on your progress.

EDIT: See the link that resolved my METER Fuse problem
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ght=meter+fuse