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Topic: Tracking down a short

in Forum: C3 Electrical

Tracking down a short

Posted: 3/29/07 3:04pm Message 1 of 21
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Shenandoah, PA - USA
Joined: 10/18/2006
Posts: 328
Vette(s): 1982 Chevrolet Corvette
Saturday I had to adjust the brake light switch on the Corvette, the next day on my way out to eat I realize I now have no clock/radio or power mirrors.  Checked the manual and found the 10 amp fuse needed was blown, so I replaced it.  Today I ran the car to the mall and still had no radio or power mirrors, pulled the same fuse and found it blew again.  Replaced it with my last 10 amp fuse back at the garage and -- yep you guessed it -- blew the third fuse immediately.  I don't even know where to start tracing this, never had an electrical problem before. Help!


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Tracking down a short

Posted: 3/29/07 4:11pm Message 2 of 21
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Lanoka Harbor, NJ - USA
Joined: 12/21/2006
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Vette(s): 1975 metallic blue coupe with t-tops,L48, t/t steering, black leather interior. 1990 L98, white/red leather interior, auto,a/c
if you didn't have the problem before adjusting the switch that would be the first place to look. you may have bumped a wire causing it to short out. btw..is the brake switch on the same circuit as that may be the culprit. 


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Tracking down a short

Posted: 3/29/07 6:49pm Message 3 of 21
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
The radio and the p/mirrors are on the same fuse circuit. The brake light switch is not protected by a fuse.
Your problem will be in either the radio, or p/window circuit.
Chances are, you may have gotten a wire out of place while adjusting the brake switch, and it is indeed touching something, and blowing the radio fuse. Look up under there and see if you have a brown wire hanging, or looks out of place. It may even be caught between the brake pedal and the support, causing the blown fuse syndrome.
I have to assume this problem wasn't there before you worked with the brake switch?


Joel Adams
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Tracking down a short

Posted: 3/29/07 7:12pm Message 4 of 21
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Shenandoah, PA - USA
Joined: 10/18/2006
Posts: 328
Vette(s): 1982 Chevrolet Corvette
No, I did not have this problem before I adjusted the brake switch.  That's why I mentioned it, I thought that's just too much of a coincidence.  What exactly should I be looking for "out of place" under there?  I'm learning more all the time but to me the electrical system might as well be magic  Wacko


Tracking down a short

Posted: 3/29/07 7:37pm Message 5 of 21
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Duncanville, TX - USA
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
A brown wire that looks like its melted somewhere!

I'd say just look around the area that you were in, and see if there actually is a brown wire around the brake pedal/switch, or around the steering column, that might just be loose, or have a bare spot on it, and touching anything metal.
It may very well be a co-winky-dink that this happened at the same time...you know that there is never a time when the car is "finished". Any time you fix one thing, something else will pop up...

If you can, take a few photos of the area around the brake pedal/switch area, and post them so we can all have a look-see...we might see something you missed...might not.

As far as electrical stuff being "magic", I'll let ya in on a little trade secret, if you promise not to tell...
All those little wires you see in/around your car are really just hollow tubes. The insides of these tubes is filled with smoke. If one of them touches something it's not supposed to, the plastic that the tubes are made of melts, and all of the smoke comes out. That's when the item that tube is connected to quits working...


sorry....I just couldn't help myself!!!Adams' Apple2007-03-29 19:42:52


Joel Adams
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Tracking down a short

Posted: 3/29/07 7:55pm Message 6 of 21
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Clarksville, TN - USA
Joined: 10/22/2005
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Vette(s): 1977 L48 T Top, Dark Blue
Joel, you're killin me!!!Rolling%20On%20The%20Floor%20LaughingRolling%20On%20The%20Floor%20LaughingRolling%20On%20The%20Floor%20Laughing


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Tracking down a short

Posted: 3/29/07 8:06pm Message 7 of 21
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Shenandoah, PA - USA
Joined: 10/18/2006
Posts: 328
Vette(s): 1982 Chevrolet Corvette

Hmmm... I've also heard that if I remove my valve covers, all the hamsters turning wheels in that there engine block will escape!  So how do I get them back in??

I may still poke around tonight so I'll let you know what (if anything) I find under there... the wiring, that is  Wink


Tracking down a short

Posted: 3/29/07 8:17pm Message 8 of 21
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
[QUOTE=PSU 98]

Hmmm... I've also heard that if I remove my valve covers, all the hamsters turning wheels in that there engine block will escape! So how do I get them back in??Wink[/QUOTE]

Ya gots tuh shove them little fellers up in da tail-pipe, and push them back up there with a water hose...


Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)
             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Tracking down a short

Posted: 3/29/07 9:37pm Message 9 of 21
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Shenandoah, PA - USA
Joined: 10/18/2006
Posts: 328
Vette(s): 1982 Chevrolet Corvette
I don't see anything unusual under there.  I snapped some pics but I don't think they'll help much.  Man it's a tight squeeze -- especially with a light and a camera!
 
 
One thing I noticed is that all the other fuses look "old", maybe even original, while this fuse is a newer type.  So I believe the previous owner(s) had the same problem.  Was there a reason you specified to look for a brown wire Joel?



Tracking down a short

Posted: 3/30/07 5:04am Message 10 of 21
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
The radio and p-mirrors have the brown wire(s) going to them for 12v+, coming from the fuse box. This would be the wire(s) that probably have the short. It's either that, or your radio, or p-mirrors have shorts in them.
I'll have a closer look at your pics later, to see if there is anything I can see...I do see one brown wire with a white stripe that is touching the brake pedal support now. Could be that one...


Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

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             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

in Forum: C3 Electrical


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