Electrical Problem (started small, now seems big)

[orangedsm]

Ok, bought my Eclipse a few months ago, and proceeded to start modding it. Hooked up the S-AFC2 and Turbo Timer (with harness) and everything was fine for about a month.

Then I get pulled over for having no tail lights one night, replaced the fuse, and it blew about 10 seconds later. Couldn't get it fixed, drove home with the cop following behind me (very nice cop) and I haven't been able to diagnose the problem. Ok so my friend and I check all the wires on the ECU, they all are connected well and all exposed wire was taped off. Everything looked fine there, got up under the steering wheel in the rats nest of wires there, and everything looked fine.

So we decide to test it again, fuse does great, I've got tailights and everything. Problem solved? Nope..... next morning go to start it up, and I notice when I get in the car that I've got NO power, no dome light, nothing. Back to the drawing board....jumped the car, ran in for about 30 minutes, turned off the car, and instantly no power again. Changed out the battery, but while changing it, I hear a pop, check the 80A alternator fuse and it's blown.

Now I'm in Italy in the USAF, and the BX doesn't sell the fuse, I can't find it anywhere online, I'm gonna call my parents and have them pick me up a few and send it my way (should take about a week).

Now should I check anything else before I mess with anything? Any help would be cool, and if you need me to elaborate on something just ask.

Thanks,
Jason

 

[Alex_95TSI]

Im in a simliar situation except i WISH i was blowing fuses!


You have a short SOMEWHERE. Since you said you started putting in AFC and turbo timer start there. Hopefully all of your connections are good and no metal to metal contact.

 

[orangedsm]

Oh and another thing I forgot, when I finally got the tail light fuse to quit blowing, and I took it on a test drive, everyone was flashing high beams at me. Turns out my high beams are stuck in the on position and my lever has no effect, even taking out the fuse didn't help. So I pulled the bulbs out, so that's another little mystery I gotta figure out.

 

[luv2rallye]

Yep you have a short.

To find a short, first disconnect the obvious devices (eg. taillights if blowing taillight fuse) to see if fuse still blows. Also try disconnecting everything that is or may be on that fuse’s circuit or anything suspicious or recently worked on that’s electrical. Disconnect anything electrical that doesn’t work. Examine the wiring and connectors on the things you disconnect to see if they are frayed, broken, melted, wet, or touching other wires or metal. 95% of the time you will find the short this way (which is also the quickest).

If it still blows you will have to use a tougher technique. Replace the fuse that blows (temporarily and only for testing purposes) with an actual small 12 volt light bulb like a marker light or license plate light (don't try to start the engine with it in). The bulb will limit the current so you now don’t have to worry about any short melting wires. You will have to solder wires on the bulb or put it in a socket with wires. Then insert the wires into the slots where the fuse was. If there is a short, it will lite brightly (no short may lite it half bright along with the a device doing the other half, or it may not lite at all). Then start disconnecting one at a time (1) things that don’t work, (2) suspected things, and (3) anything on that circuit. When you disconnect the item that is causing the short, the light will go out (so it's a great detection device). Keep in mind the short may be in the wiring or fusebox which is harder to find, but first check all the easier, more obvious devices and places.

Here is also a helpful link: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54846

 

[orangedsm]

Thanks for the response! I don't mind working on electrical stuff, I've just always tried to avoid it, but I guess now is a good of time as any to learn. I'll do what you said and keep ya updated!

Thanks,
Jason

 

[lynx]

Just a thought, but it might be your flasher unit. Mine kept blowing out the tailights for a while but it stopped.
:/
It's located under your radio in the center console, mine was marked Denso.
Just unplug it and see if that stops the shorts.