| [ Total Views: 543 | Total Replies: 11 | Thread Id: 21983 ] |
|
|
 killakornkobb
A.k.a.: Damien
Custom Title Time!
where's that clutch?
Posts: 1663
Threads: 149
Registered: March 28th, 2004
Member Is Offline
Location: Rowville, Melbourne
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Pierced
|
| posted on April 22nd, 2004 at 03:15 PM |
|
|
PARK LIGHT FUSE - keeping me off the road!!! :(
hey all i got a BIG problem!
my park light fuses keep shorting.. as soon as i put them in/turn on lights POP! there they go! theyre 8 Amp fuses right?
this is a 1968 Semi-Auto
that is what was in there for the 10 months i had it before the blew up, and now it's eating them like skittles!
has anyon had this hapen, and can suggest where the short may be coming from? or if it's safe to up the fuse to 16?
i cant drive at night untill this is fixed!
AAAARGGHH!!! *pulls out hair*
thanks...
---Damien |
|
|
nicko
Officially Full-On Dubber
Posts: 389
Threads: 77
Registered: March 18th, 2003
Member Is Offline
Location: Mid North Coast(Blackhead)
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Tired
|
| posted on April 22nd, 2004 at 03:40 PM |
|
|
Damien does the fault happen straight away or intermitently. I have looked at a wiring diagram in the Haynes manual and it shows 12 volt bugs have two
parking light fuses, one for the left and one for the right. These fuses also runs the tail lights and the right fuse runs the number plate light.
There fore I recomend you check the parkers, tail lights and number plate lights for shorting. It would be a good idea to have a good look at wire
from the number plate light back to the main wiring loom as I reckon this would be pretty easy to damage especially if you have had the engine lid
off.
Good luck
Nicko
|
|
|
Purple Martin
A.k.a.: Martin
Fahrvergnugen
Posts: 913
Threads: 141
Registered: February 13th, 2003
Member Is Offline
Location: Canberra
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: warm & fuzzy
|
| posted on April 22nd, 2004 at 05:22 PM |
|
|
Firstly, no it's not safe to put a 16amp in it's place. If you try to do that (or worse still use tin foil) you'll probably get an electrical
fire, which can ruin your whole day.
Do you have a multimeter? If not I recommend you get one, they're quite cheap from Dick Smiths, Jaycar etc. Use it to test the wires in different
places until you find the short-circuit. It's not that difficult, and the short should be easy to fix once you've found it. Do you have some
electrical insulating tape? If not, get some: it's only $2 for a pack of 5 at places like GoLo, Clints etc. Wrap connections with it to prevent any
chance of them touching something and shorting.
1959 red & white Beetle
1975 Kombi camper
|
|
|
killakornkobb
A.k.a.: Damien
Custom Title Time!
where's that clutch?
Posts: 1663
Threads: 149
Registered: March 28th, 2004
Member Is Offline
Location: Rowville, Melbourne
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Pierced
|
| posted on April 22nd, 2004 at 09:53 PM |
|
|
yes Both left and right fuses blow.. does this mean the fault is somwhere before the two fuses split? ie. closer to the battery?
i work at the wearhouse (bought out clints') so i got some elec tape.. and a multimetre too! will have to investigate tomorrow somtime :/
how do i identify the short circuit with the multimetre?
the engine lid has never been off since i bought it.. but its a 36 yr old car.. so anything could happen!
and is it possible it is just two wires behind the loom touching and doing this (or is that what a short circuit is?)
thanks
---Damien |
|
|
1303Steve
A.k.a.: Steve Carter
Scirocco Rare
Posts: 8650
Threads: 564
Registered: August 27th, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: Sydney, NSW
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Parrot Heading
|
| posted on April 22nd, 2004 at 10:27 PM |
|
|
Hi
Have a look at the back of your headlight, there are copper sheet springs that contact the bulb, these can sometimes touch and blow the fuse.
1302Steve
|
|
|
GL1972
Wolfsburg Wizard
Posts: 432
Threads: 20
Registered: August 17th, 2003
Member Is Offline
Location: Central Coast NSW
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: dribblin' .. oops drippin'
|
| posted on April 22nd, 2004 at 10:32 PM |
|
|
Damien,
It sounds like you have a high resistance short to earth. If your park lights are dim before the fuse blows it is most likely the case.
What you need to do is to trace which bit of the electricals is the offending part.
I you have a multimeter do this.
1. Disconnect battery.
2. Set multimeter on ohms.
3. Connect multimeter leads to earth and the park light fuse. (it should read 0 ohms resistance)
4. Remove all parking bulbs.
6. Read multimeter again (if wiring is ok it should read open circuit)(if it reads xx ohms you got a short in a fitting or wiring to earth).
If you do have a short, progressively unplug wires from light fittings and fuses and test each piece to earth....a process of elimination.
If non of the above is true you could have a high resistance joint at one of your fittings. Discoloured wire ends where there has been heat from high
current is a telltale sign. If this is the case reterminate the wiring after you cut off the burnt anealed bit.
Hope this helps.
Brendan |
|
|
68AutoBug
A.k.a.: Lee Noonan
Aircooled Master
Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138% - YIKES --
Posts: 11654
Threads: 449
Registered: August 31st, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: SCONE in UPPER HUNTER VALLEY NSW
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Yellow
Mood: Really Mentally Ill - all of the time -
|
| posted on April 23rd, 2004 at 12:28 AM |
|
|
Brendan,
Have You ever taken a parking bulb from a VW headlamp???
The main power copper strip which usually contacts the tip of the bulb with pressure... earths out when the bulb is taken out!!!! I can remember that
from years ago....
Damien,
Its very odd to have both circuits shorting out at the same time... unless someone has done something to both lamps..
whether front parkers or rear tail lamps...
I've never heard of that happening before...
I'll send You an email tomorrow..
Lee
| Error |
| Sorry, you must be a registered user in order to download attachments. |
|
- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
|
|
|
killakornkobb
A.k.a.: Damien
Custom Title Time!
where's that clutch?
Posts: 1663
Threads: 149
Registered: March 28th, 2004
Member Is Offline
Location: Rowville, Melbourne
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Pierced
|
| posted on April 23rd, 2004 at 09:07 AM |
|
|
actually... its quite possible i stuffed somthing up in the headlights when trying to put the stone guards on them (STILL havnt BTW).. i think that
will be the first thing i check! i havnt touched the rear lights at all..
i will crack out the multimetre, and let you all know how i go..
Lee - i'll be waiting for your e-mail.. havnt had an update in a while :P 
cheers,
---Damien |
|
|
nicko
Officially Full-On Dubber
Posts: 389
Threads: 77
Registered: March 18th, 2003
Member Is Offline
Location: Mid North Coast(Blackhead)
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Tired
|
| posted on April 23rd, 2004 at 09:41 AM |
|
|
Also check the back of the fuse box to see if something such as a screw or piece of metal hasnt fallen onto the terminals. it is unusual that both
fuses are blowing and it could have something to do with the stone guards. I worked as a sparky on lifts and there was a saying that you should always
check the thing you touched last when there is a problem
Cheers Nicko
|
|
|
count
Casual Dubber
Posts: 48
Threads: 12
Registered: January 1st, 2004
Member Is Offline
Location: Millmerran, On the Downs, Darling
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Vacuum....
|
| posted on April 23rd, 2004 at 10:20 AM |
|
|
Blowing Fuse
One way to get around this,
is to wire in [solder] a 12Volt light bulb in serier with the Fuse.
If you are going to blow the fuse,
the light globe glows instead.
Ivan
Ivan in Oz
1976 Beetle 1600
Mitsubishi Delicious 2.8TDi 4X4
MotoGuzzi
You're only Young once,
You can be immature forever.
|
|
|
killakornkobb
A.k.a.: Damien
Custom Title Time!
where's that clutch?
Posts: 1663
Threads: 149
Registered: March 28th, 2004
Member Is Offline
Location: Rowville, Melbourne
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Pierced
|
| posted on April 23rd, 2004 at 11:51 AM |
|
|
they work again!!!
i believe it was the headlights..
although i moved a suss wire behind the fuse terminal aswell..
the headlights had gathered a bit of moisture, but i think the problem was they might have been touching the body of the car.. gonna wrap them in some
tape
also the connection to one of the park lights in the front wasnt on properly.. dunno if this had any affect..
and the damn servo ripped me off... $1 per fuse :|
thanks for your help everyone! i never thought to check the headlights.. as i didnt notice the park lights there were off aswell.. good learning
expeience and not TOO expensive either
---Damien |
|
|
killakornkobb
A.k.a.: Damien
Custom Title Time!
where's that clutch?
Posts: 1663
Threads: 149
Registered: March 28th, 2004
Member Is Offline
Location: Rowville, Melbourne
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Pierced
|
| posted on April 23rd, 2004 at 11:57 AM |
|
|
they work again!!!
i believe it was the headlights..
although i moved a suss wire behind the fuse terminal aswell..
the headlights had gathered a bit of moisture, but i think the problem was they might have been touching the body of the car.. gonna wrap them in some
tape
also the connection to one of the park lights in the front wasnt on properly.. dunno if this had any affect..
and the damn servo ripped me off... $1 per fuse :|
thanks for your help everyone! i never thought to check the headlights.. as i didnt notice the park lights there were off aswell.. good learning
expeience and not TOO expensive either
---Damien |
|
|
68AutoBug
A.k.a.: Lee Noonan
Aircooled Master
Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138% - YIKES --
Posts: 11654
Threads: 449
Registered: August 31st, 2002
Member Is Offline
Location: SCONE in UPPER HUNTER VALLEY NSW
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Yellow
Mood: Really Mentally Ill - all of the time -
|
| posted on April 23rd, 2004 at 05:48 PM |
|
|
Damien,
Good work..
Yes after looking at the stock headlamps with the park lamp behind the headlamp, it may have been the terminal not on correctly and touching the
body... a bad design...
I use Hella H4 Quartz Halogen headlamps... it takes a bit of modification but have done it a few times....
I also have a pair of good "L" 1303S Bosch headlamps, they are a better design...
You can buy a packet of those ceramic fuses at BIG W etc...
Its best to have a few in the ash tray....
cheers
Lee
- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
|
|
|
killakornkobb
A.k.a.: Damien
Custom Title Time!
where's that clutch?
Posts: 1663
Threads: 149
Registered: March 28th, 2004
Member Is Offline
Location: Rowville, Melbourne
Theme: UltimaBB Pro Blue ( Default )
Mood: Pierced
|
| posted on April 23rd, 2004 at 11:33 PM |
|
|
yeah, think i'll buy a few packs! lol
i was driving in the TERRIBLE weather (melb atm) with lights/wipers on.. and when i turned off to fill up at the servo.. i couldnt start her up
again!!!
had to call a friend to come give me a jump start!!!
i have issues w/ RACV atm.. so no call for them
useless info but thought i'd share it!
---Damien |
|
|
