Technical Electrical issue

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Technical Electrical issue

Drblu19

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Oct 5, 2015
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My brake lights as well as running lights no longer work, I think there is a short somewhere because a fuse keeps blowing every time I try to turn on the lights. The only part of the tail lights that is still working are the signals. There is no power going to the other lights in the system. I don't know if anyone else has experienced something similar can it shorts in a common place but any information on this would be very helpful
 
I'd try checking the wiring in the trunk as this is the most likely area where wiring can be damaged.

Next I'd try removing the bulbs for the stop and running lights, fit a new fuse and see if it blows (making sure the fuse is the correct rating for the circuit) first by pressing the brake pedal and then by turning on the lights. With the bulbs removed, there should be no current flowing in the circuits unless a wire is shorting to ground.

To narrow it down further, you could trace the wires from the lights not working back to the fusebox terminals or switches, disconnect them and then reconnect them in turn until the fuse blows.

Another alternative is to use an ohm meter with the power off in the circuit being tested (battery disconnected) and see which bulb terminal/contact is shorting to ground, i.e. meter reading 0 ohms.

There is also a type of tester available afaik which can identify if a wire is live or shorted to ground but I've no experience of this tester.

AL.
 
Another possibility :

Rodent damage to wiring, particularly if car was laid up for a while.

Did the brake lights and running lights work recently or did you buy the car with this fault. Maybe someone was messing with the wiring?

AL.
 
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