b-juggles

Hey all,

Well, friday arvo i worked out how my car was stolen from its previous owner before i got it. they wired the fuel pump to the brake lights that go one when you put your parking lights on (if that makes anysense) and well you can work out how they got it started from here

anyway, the problem started after i fixed that dodginess up, but when i went to put the instrument cluster in the 15A fuse kept blowing. I also noticed that the flasher fuse blows aswell when you indicate. I checked the relays and they are fine.....i have taken my dash apart today, and have found no shorts that would cause the fuse to blow anywhere. anyway, with bits of dash all over my garage floor, i'm starting to get annoyed!!!!

anyone got ideas...or have they had any problems like this one before i go crazy?

thanks heaps

T3man

Well one thing is for sure - you really don't know what you're doing and it will end up in tears for you - there IS a short circuit somewhere and I recommend you see an auto sparks 'cos when you put it back you might BURN the car.

I'm still trying to understand what brake lights go on when you turn the parking lights on ???? Sorry, it DOESN'T make any sense at all.

Are you sure you have put the relays back in their correct positions? I think the flasher relay is not interchangeable with any of the others so ....

Sorry for being a bit harsh there but the consequences of losing you car are to be taken seriously ... if you don't understand electrics don't play with them. And don't be scared of admitting it 'cos there are plenty of otherwise very good mechanics out there who don't understand electrics either.

LTDHO

It could be the way the fuel pump was connected, I think the computer switches the neg. If you know what I mean? What exactly have you done to fix it? Be sure you trace the wires, the theives could have bridged wires else where too.

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b-juggles

I did the first post in a rush...

when i say park lights l mean tail lights. the way i undersatnd it )frommy very blinkered view of hot wiring) run a wire from tail light to fuel pump for fuel pressure, then line from battery to coil, push down street, and there you go.

I achieved my initial goal of wanting to stop the fuel pump from activating when there is NO key in the ignition (ie ignition is OFF). and park lights turned on.

the instrument cluster and indicators now jus keep fusing. I just dont understand why after snipping that extra wire from tail lights to fuel pump, and removing the instrument cluster would result in the insturment cluster And the indicators fuse dieing. I even put the extra wire back and it still does it. so i am thinkin i have agitatated an un related problem here

I dont undersatnd how i can "BURN my car" isn't that wot fuses are for?

your entitled to your opinion, and i dont undersantd car electrics (to be honest i never thought of them until today)_ but the way i figure it, car electrics aint brain surgery, so anyone with a basic understanding can do it. i am determined to do this myself.

as for setting the car on fire and it "ending in tears" i think i have about as much chance of that happening as ford does of cancelling the BA falcon. heck if it does catch on fire at least i have a cool story to tell the boys.

as for the relays, your right, the flasher only goes in one way. thanks for that.

TopGhia

hot_eb, that's the spirit. The only way to learn is to do it yourself.
Have you got a set of Ford workshop manuals, you might be able to pick up a 2nd hand set somewhere.

There is a lot more wiring in these computer aided cars, but the principles are the same. You have power going through fuses to power different gizmos which then returns to earth. Earthing problems are 80% of all faults, bad connectors another 15%.
Checking your earths and connectors will find the majority of faults.


(I've just found the smileys page)

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b-juggles

thanks topghia , didnt think of connectors , i will check them now.

biggaben

failing that have a look behind the fuse panel, in my old commy i was always blowing fuses, ramdom aswell. turned out (after seeing 4 auto sparkies) that i had knocked a 10 amp lead loose and it was brushing up against the others. I am lucky i didn't **** all the electrics. serves me right for having big goofy feet

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T3man

Hmmm.... I've seen a few cars burn ... they had fuses ... but there are some things you won't learn from the wiring diagrams.

Like:

It is possible to get a short circuit in a section of wiring which is not protected. This is rare but possible esp under the bonnet.

It is also very possible for a short circuit to occur which carries less current than that at which the fuse is rated, but still be sufficient to start the insulation to melt, and with enough heat, to eventually catch on something combustible and next thing you know fuses are no longer any assistance. There are several circuits behind your dash which are protected by up to 35 amp breakers and a fire can start with as little as 10 amps.

But you are correct, it isn't rocket science, and if you need to learn by trial and error then it is just as well you are practising on your own car.

b-juggles

well all,

One of the problems is fixed!!!!!!!!!!!....i now have my instruments back....still no indicators yet...but working on it.



Biggaben - the fuse connectors and relay connectors were the first things i checked and they are sweet - thanks anyway though

When I do the hazards, the flasher fuse still blows but when you do the indicators, nothing happens. i bridged the flasher relay to see if that was the problem but it is sweet.

so yeah, any other ideas?

thanks all.....