Tail lights and dash lights out [Merged 4-7]

[LiquidX]

Well, you have a short somewhere to put it simple. Where it would be, you'll have to try to track it.

 

[badabing33a]

Ok where would i start?

 

[LiquidX]

Was there aftermarket parts installed prior to buying the car? Check under the dash for any potential hack jobs and around the engine bay fuse box for wear on the harness.

 

[badabing33a]

Just a CD Player. But ive had this for a month now and it just started tonight. Havent touched a wire yet.

 

[dsmconifer]

That happened in my jeep and i got pulled over all the time, because my blinker one popped all the time too. There is a short somewhere, check your wires down there and on the back of your radio. Have you tried higher number fuses?

 

[LiquidX]

Have you tried higher number fuses?

If the 30A is the stock rated fuse, keep that rated fuse. You don't want to go higher and have a short and end up causing a fire because the fuse isn't blowing and preventing it.

 

[badabing33a]

I tried a 30 and i started the car. The dash lights were very dim. Then thats when the smoke came out. The fuse didnt blow but it smoked alot.

 

[Bud92gsx]

It's a 92...It's old dude.PA winters probly arent nice either....There might be obvious corrosion sumwhere like a harness.Or a hack job like mentioned...That's a great place to start... Don't you have two other dsm's in your yard?
You must have a haynes manual around sumwhere.. That will tell you where else to look(curcuits to check)....

 

[bnr32_coupe]

trace the wires leading to that fuse. usually wiring harness are coiled up together in a tight space - try spreading the wires apart. sometimes it may be frayed on a level you cant see. spreading the wires apart apart is worth a shot!
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[badabing33a]

Ok guys thanks. Yea actually i have 3 over DSM's . I have been reading up on this for the past hour. Ive read alot about the Dimmer Switch. Maybe thats the problem. Also, a few people had a short in their license plate light (mine doesnt work now either from this btw). So i guess ill get a tester and check every wire that i can see. Im a BIG newb when it comes to wiring. I hate wires. Thats why i like my carberated muscle cars and dirt cars . Not one damn wire (except the gauges). But yea keep the replies coming.

 

[badabing33a]

Ok so i didnt find anything wrong under the dash. I unbolted the fuse box under the hood and some wires are spliced/burnt. How to i replace them? I only have so much room since the big wad of wires that run down towards the radiator are still connected. Also, there is a wire thats on the top of the positive terminal that isnt connected to anything. where does this go? I really need to fix this because i cant do to work with no tail lights.

 

[juanjose]

have u looked at ## tail lights terminals sometimes they melt causing shorts that happen to me once.

 

[badabing33a]

where are they? sorry like i said before i am a BIG newb with electrical things. I hate wires .

 

[LiquidX]

Take some pictures of the wires that you mentioned if you don't mind.

 

[badabing33a]

ill try to use a camera. but i cut them, rewired as much as i could, then taped em up. still didnt F-in help any. this is really starting to piss me off.

 

[badabing33a]

I have checked EVERYTHING. inside and out. im missing something. i havent messed with anything on this car yet so idk why it just all of a sudden started doing this. Please guys, let me know what i could check over.

 

[badabing33a]

Ok so i have been reading everywhere in the forums about fuses, shorts, wiring, etc. Well, there was a post on how to find a short. The guy mensioned an open door will act as a short. Well, i remember locking my doors for the first time ever the day this happend. And, a door wasnt shut all the day thanks for a lil kid. But it was only like that for like 5 mins or less. Also, you know that annoying buzzing noise when your key is in the ignition and the dorr is open? Well yea. That kinda disappeared. I never thought id say this but i wish it was back. Im trying to give you guys as much info as i can. I need a Wiseman in here!

 

[my dreamt dsm]

Check your IG fuses under your fuse box inside the engine bay. You might want to check your light bulbs somtime for no reason they might cause a short or weird electrical problem. Get back to me after you check that your big fuses under your hood could be blown. Ever try lookin inthere

 

[badabing33a]

Under the fuse box? I had the fuse box unbolted and i didnt see any fuses. Just two plugs. And for the light bulbs, you mean headlight bulbs? I will definatly check these two things out in the morning. And you dont know how much i apreciate your guy's replies. Oh and i did notice a wire connected to the positive battery but it isnt connected to anything at the other end. What is this?
Fog lights dont work either btw. I went out at 3AM because i couldnt sleep thinking about this.

 

[my dreamt dsm]

Light bulbs I mean tail light whatever u can find. Also check for good grounds for the altenator and a good ground for your battery to car. I know how u feel

 

[badabing33a]

Aight ill check em out. thanks again...

 

[my dreamt dsm]

So whats the verdict?

 

[justin90gsx]

my gsx did the same thing, and it was one of my tail light bulb connectors, i just fondled it and started working again!

 

[Fabian]

not to get you off topic or anything but one day I was pulling into mcdonalds on my lunch break driving my 1g GSX and I hit a bump too hard and bottomed the car out and all of a sudden everything shut off. so I go to start the car and nothing came on. I stayed in that parking lot for 2 hours. removed the battery and checked every fuse, everytime I'd replace the MPI relay it'd blow. come to find out just by chance I took the ignition covers off the steering wheel to check for shorts and some dumbass who owned the car before me hacked up the ignition wires to hardwire a turbo timer in and left them all uncovered when he took the timer out! the accessory wire was grounding out on the metal cover!

just sayin, stupid shit like that happens all the time. so you might wanna check ALLLLL of your options. as much of a pain in the ass it actually is to do it. when I found the wires I covered em and never had another problem.

 

[badabing33a]

Thats thing thing. Where the hell do i start? haha. Iven been looking and looking and looking. Noticed today that when i turn on my headlights, the alt light and battery light come on and my cd ejects from the CD player. Oh and that annoying buzzing sound when the door is open with the key in the ignition is gone too. As well as my fog lights.