lights not working

[88mudder]

84 Ranger with a 302v8. I was driving down the road at night and then my tail lights go out as well as the front sidemarker lights and interior dash lights. I get home and the fuse is blown on that circuit, i knew thats what happened. 15 amp fuse, everytime i try to put a new fuse in it keeps blowing. Could i have a short somewhere? It was raining when this happened. I checked the wires and didnt see anything wrong and also put a meter up to the light sockets and they all pegged to the max..not much of an electrical guru so any tips on what to test/look for and where?

 

[Capt Jay]

100% you have a short. Check for a hot wire hanging somewhere or a chaffed wire. I know that I have a lot of wires that I didn't use when I put in my v8. Just take your time and run the wires. The rain will drop resistance or cause the electrical to jump (close the gap). Good hunting, I don't envy you. I hate electrical gremlins.

 

[falcon57]

Try looking at the ground wire at your tail lights or even at your various points in the system, A faulty ground will cause the current to surge.

 

[88mudder]

it seems hard to trace wires cuz they are all wrapped up in wrap from the factory, ill look again

 

[skippy]

+1 on the wiring,if the wiring doesn't reveal the problem,you might also look at the affected bulbs.

 

[88mudder]

+1 on the wiring,if the wiring doesn't reveal the problem,you might also look at the affected bulbs.

none of the bulbs blew out, i think once i get the truck on a hoist it will be easier to look for wires underneath

 

[martin]

If you have a connecter for a trailer, check that first. To make tracing the problem easier you can put a 12v bulb in place of the fuse. it will light up brightly if you have a short and when you find and fix the short it will go dim.

 

[88mudder]

If you have a connecter for a trailer, check that first. To make tracing the problem easier you can put a 12v bulb in place of the fuse. it will light up brightly if you have a short and when you find and fix the short it will go dim.

i do have a trailer connector on mine. What do u mean by check it?

 

[skippy]

Check for chafed wires,rainwater in the socket,anything that could cause your short to ground.

 

[88mudder]

thanks

 

[Shran]

Dunno if anybody else has had this problem, but the wiring harness on my '86 had a hole rubbed through about a three feet before the rear fuel tank. Can't remember what it rubbed on, but might be a starting point to look at.

 

[AllanD]

do you want a very specific guess?

Ok I'll give you one...


between the fuse block and the headlamp switch.

Look for a Tan wire with a white stripe.

The plating on the terminal at one end or the other has corroded
and the resistance that creates has overheated the wire and melted the insulation off resulting in a short.

BTDT, seen it happen on about a dozen '85-88 rangers.

If I'm right what do I get?
(Hint a case of beer would be nice

AD

 

[Capt Jay]

It will be either at a connecting point of a wire or a worn wire. You don't have to take all the wires out of the loom.

 

[88mudder]

do you want a very specific guess?

Ok I'll give you one...


between the fuse block and the headlamp switch.

Look for a Tan wire with a white stripe.

The plating on the terminal at one end or the other has corroded
and the resistance that creates has overheated the wire and melted the insulation off resulting in a short.

BTDT, seen it happen on about a dozen '85-88 rangers.

If I'm right what do I get?
(Hint a case of beer would be nice

AD

i looked and looked and didn't see that wire anywhere.

 

[low_five]

if you have a multimeter put it on volts. with one lead, touch the frame or a known ground. with the other lead, probe the points where the fuse plugs in. one side will have 12v. ignore the side with 12V.

put it on ohms (or continuity) keep one lead on the frame or known ground. place the other lead on the other side of the fuse. if the needle swings, it means you have a wire that is touching the frame or body or something. move the light switch to on and off and see if affects the reading. if turning the light switch on and off affects the needle, then the problem is between the switch and the lights (or possibly the switch). if it does not affect the problem, then it is between the fuse panel and the switch (or possibly the switch itself)

good luck.