Bender

I have a 1984 Bronco II that has a mystery short in the tail lights.
Some times the fuse will blow out instantly when the light switch is
pulled. Some times it won’t blow for a few minutes or hours. All the
wiring that I can get to seems ok. I saw a lamp out module in the
wiring diagram that has a resister wire in the circut before the
module. Could these be causing my short? If so, where are they
located?

--
Posted using the http://www.autoforumz.com interface, at author's request
Articles individually checked for conformance to usenet standards
Topic URL: http://www.autoforumz.com/Ford-myste...ict130029.html
Visit Topic URL to contact author (reg. req'd). Report abuse: http://www.autoforumz.com/eform.php?p=633591

SnoMan

"Bender" wrote:
>I have a 1984 Bronco II that has a mystery short in the tail lights.
>Some times the fuse will blow out instantly when the light switch is
>pulled. Some times it won’t blow for a few minutes or hours. All
>the wiring that I can get to seems ok. I saw a lamp out module in the
>wiring diagram that has a resister wire in the circut before the
>module. Could these be causing my short? If so, where are they
>located?

THis is a 21 year old car and my guess is that the wiring in the car
somewhere has insulation rubbed thru and it is touching ground, Check
wiring under hood and were it goes the clamp and along its route to
the rear.

Bender

"SnoMan" wrote:
> [quote:394e5076e9="Bender"]I have a 1984 Bronco II that has a
> mystery short in the tail lights. Some times the fuse will
> blow out instantly when the light switch is pulled. Some times
> it won't blow for a few minutes or hours. All the wiring that
> I can get to seems ok. I saw a lamp out module in the wiring
> diagram that has a resister wire in the circut before the
> module. Could these be causing my short? If so, where are they
> located?[/quote:394e5076e9]
>
> THis is a 21 year old car and my guess is that the wiring in
> the car somewhere has insulation rubbed thru and it is
> touching ground, Check wiring under hood and were it goes the
> clamp and along its route to the rear.

That was my first thought too, so I disconected the harness at the
connector for the passenger side light assembly and the short went
away. I plugged it back in and the short was still gone, momentarily.
So I figure that the short is in that part of the harness (connector
to light assembly). I bypassed that part with a new wire, and the
short was gone. I went for a drive and the short came back. That is
why I’m suspecting the lamp out module, I don’t know much about them.
Anyone ever have any experience with one?

David M

On Thu, 21 Jul 2005 23:39:26 -0400, Bender rearranged some electrons to
form:

> "SnoMan" wrote:
> > [quote:394e5076e9="Bender"]I have a 1984 Bronco II that has a
> > mystery short in the tail lights. Some times the fuse will
> > blow out instantly when the light switch is pulled. Some times
> > it won't blow for a few minutes or hours. All the wiring that
> > I can get to seems ok. I saw a lamp out module in the wiring
> > diagram that has a resister wire in the circut before the
> > module. Could these be causing my short? If so, where are they
> > located?[/quote:394e5076e9]
> >
> > THis is a 21 year old car and my guess is that the wiring in
> > the car somewhere has insulation rubbed thru and it is
> > touching ground, Check wiring under hood and were it goes the
> > clamp and along its route to the rear.
>
> That was my first thought too, so I disconected the harness at the
> connector for the passenger side light assembly and the short went
> away. I plugged it back in and the short was still gone, momentarily.
> So I figure that the short is in that part of the harness (connector
> to light assembly). I bypassed that part with a new wire, and the
> short was gone. I went for a drive and the short came back.

I don't think you have found the short yet. Keep looking. It's bound to
be somewhere where the wires and body are in close proximity.
You'll probably have to inspect the entire harness.

--
David M (dmacchiarolo)
http://home.triad.rr.com/redsled
T/S 53
sled351 Linux 2.4.18-14 has been up 32 days 32 min

Bender

"Bender" wrote:
> That was my first thought too, so I disconected the harness at
> the connector for the passenger side light assembly and the
> short went away. I plugged it back in and the short was still
> gone, momentarily. So I figure that the short is in that part
> of the harness (connector to light assembly). I bypassed that
> part with a new wire, and the short was gone. I went for a
> drive and the short came back. That is why I'm suspecting the
> lamp out module, I don't know much about them. Anyone ever
> have any experience with one?

I fixed it, I ran a new wire from the switch to the light assemblies.
Works like it should now.

SnoMan

"Bender" wrote:
>I fixed it, I ran a new wire from the switch to the light assemblies.
>Works like it should now.

Good job!!! You got it by process of elimination! Thats using your
noodle. :D