Glitch in fuse panel-wiring,,'88 BII

[DFWBII]

Un-hooked battery(always do this when working on electrical stuff) before I pulled out all fuses/breakers to clean contacts and put in correct fuses. Got all new fuses in,,hooked up battery again,, no smoking wires or anything clicking, etc. Started it up that eve and noticed the parking and tail lights were on,, checked switch,,in all the way. hmm. Its like newer trucks with day-light running lights but the head lights weren't on though. Got me stumpped. I've felt under the dash and no warm or hot wiring, traced wires to ign. switch,,no warm or hot wiring. Has this happened to anyone else here?? If so,,was was the cause and howd you remedy it? thanks,,,Larry in hotter than H Texas.

 

[adsm08]

And all you did was replace the fuses in the block? One by one, right?

 

[DFWBII]

And all you did was replace the fuses in the block? One by one, right?

Yes sir,, 1X1 replaced, while consulting the Helm's book and the schematic list on the fuse box cover. 20, 25, 30s. double checked there were a couple fuses cracked or dis-colored due to age but still functional cause the wire inside was not broken. there were a couple also wrong size/color. the parking and tail lights didnt come on with KOEO or KOER before I changed fuses,,, why they come on now with correct fuses in the box. ya reckon PO changed wiring somehow? New one on me too!!! thanks anyway,,,Larry in 99.9F N.Texas at 930pm Monday

 

[unoleisu]

It sounds to me like you have a short around the fuse. I'd start by checking the connectors for the fuse, the wires coming in to the back side. Might be a broken or corroded connector back there. Possibly a crossed wire from another fuse.
Since that is all you messed with, that is where I'd start looking.

 

[DFWBII]

It sounds to me like you have a short around the fuse. I'd start by checking the connectors for the fuse, the wires coming in to the back side. Might be a broken or corroded connector back there. Possibly a crossed wire from another fuse.
Since that is all you messed with, that is where I'd start looking.

Tnx,, yes that's what Im thinking too. This has to be a wire that gets power when the key is on/engine running. maybe a hot wire rubbing against the tail/parking light wires in the fuse box. Why would replaceing the fuses with the right size cause this problem? that fuse panel is a b---h to get to, gotta tear the whole dash apart, even to replace hd-light switch which I have already(new Ford part) when I get time. So,,next time I make a run to pick-n-pulls, guess Ill have to take the side-cuts and do some dissecting of fuse panels/harnesses etc. Sorry Rangers/BroncoIIs but this is gonna hurt a bit,,haha. stay cool yall in this horrid heat wave...Larry