TS fuse poppage.

[Cyberbeer]

Hey guys have a couple questions for you. I have an 87 Ranger 2.9 STX 4x4. The other day I noticed the turn signals werent working and it turned out the fuse had popped. So I put a new one in and it popped as soon as I tried the signals. So I tore the the dask down to access the lights and stuff replaced some bulbs and put a new fuse in. Worked for awhile then popped.

Today I put yet another fuse in and kept an eye on what was going on. I noticed that my tach was acting kinda laggy. It would tick up slowly while accelerating then jump a few 100 rmps and repeat. I got to about 3k and the tack spun all the way around and I heard the damn fuse pop for the signal. I put in another to make sure I wasnt seeing things and the same thing happened.

For the ride home I put another fuse in which popped as soon as it touched the contacts. Anyway, my questions are...What does the tach messing up have to do with the signals? Since it is obviously a short of some sort, how do I actually remove the gauge cluster. I got the covers off but I couldnt pull the cluster all the way out, I assume some wires were holding it. Appreciate the help.

 

[RobbieD]

The speedometer cable is holding it in. Get your hand back there, find the cable and feel for a square area on the ring where it goes into the cluster. Push in on the square part, and wiggle things around until the cluster pops loose. Then you can unplug the wire connectors (should be two), by squeezing in on the lock tabs on both ends and pulling the connector out of the cluster.

 

[Cyberbeer]

Any idea which wire(s) are part of the turn signal system. Pretty sure the short is in the dash and not the column. The malfunction started happening after my brother punched the dash.

 

[jubangy]

Any idea which wire(s) are part of the turn signal system. Pretty sure the short is in the dash and not the column. The malfunction started happening after my brother punched the dash.

Whereabouts did he sock the hellout of the poor innocent dash?

 

[Cyberbeer]

Around the lighter area.

 

[Cyberbeer]

Ok now I am really lost...the purple and orange wire in the fuse box supplies power to the flasher. With the flasher out and all the bulbs removed and all the connectors to the switch and the cluster disconnected the fuse still pops. Does this mean that the problem lies with either that purple and orange wire, or the fuse box?

Where is ground 202 (G202)?

Here is a pic of the unknown black wire, the other is the back of the fuse panel, does anything stand out?

 

[RobbieD]

Unless I'm mistaken, that Purple/Orange wire also feeds power to the backup light switch. Based on where you're at at this point, look for a short between the fuse and backup light switch.

 

[Cyberbeer]

That switch is on top of the transmission? Its a 5 spd manual.

 

[RobbieD]

It's listed as "LH", or driver's, side of the transmission; on both manuals available for that year.

 

[Cyberbeer]

Yea it is for the Backup light switch. Just for my own understanding I would like to reason this out. Because all the connections have been, well, disconnected from the signal switch and the dash, therefore the problem has to lie in that purple and orange wire? Which as you said leads to the backup light switch.

 

[RobbieD]

Your reasoning is correct. You have a fuse with two wires, or circuits, coming from it; one to the turn signal switch and the other to the backup light switch. You have unplugged the turn signal switch, and still have the short. therefore, the problem lies between the fuse, and the unplugged turn light connector and the backup light switch.

 

[Cyberbeer]

Thanks Robbie, and I am happy to report I found and fixed the wire. The Purple and orange wire that leads to the Back up light switch had got to close to the exhaust and the insulation melted off. I cut out the bad part spliced and shortened the wire so it wont melt again. Drove it for an hour or so and everything works!!

Thanks for the help again!!!!

 

[RobbieD]

Good for you, man! Electrical repair can drive a person nuts, but you stuck it out and whooped it. Good job.

 

[Cyberbeer]

Thanks man. Speaking of electrical I do have one other minor annoyance. My tach is always at 1400 RPM's til the engine revs past that or I shut the truck off. Does this sound like an electrical problem or something else?

 

[RobbieD]

I don't know on that one, but my guess is that it's in the tachometer. Sounds like the guage itself is hanging up.