Blown fuse

[John O.]

Hi all.

I'm experiencing a blown fuse problem. On my 62 corvette, I did a complete frame off restoration. I installed a new wiring harness through out the car.I'm near completion of the resto job. A week ago I noticed the tail lights, turn signals were not working. I checked the most obvious, which is the fuse and noticed it was blown.I replaced it and the lights worked. Now I had to disconnect the battery cables to put the battery hold down on. After reconnecting the cables, I noticed the tail lights were not working again...... Blown fuse again......What could be causing this ? All I did was disconnect and reconnect. Any thoughts?

Thanks.....John

[Stephen L.]

Re: Blown fuse

You either have an incorrect fuse size in that location OR something that is connected to that circuit causing an overload.

Check your wiring diagram to see what is supposed to be connected to that fuse.

1. Check for proper fuse size.
2. Replace fuse with proper size and leave the lights off. Check to see if anything is on that shouldn't be.... signs of "incorrectly" wired.
If the fuse still blows after a short period of time (less than a few minutes) you may have a pinched wire..... not necessarily a dead short (which typically blows the fuse immediately)
3. If fuse does not blow....remove all fuses except that one. Remove battery cable and closely look to see if you get an arc when you touch the cable to the battery. If you do, then its "hunt" time to find the culprit. If not then check to insure that you have the correct bulbs etc in the circuitry to get proper current draw.

[John O.]

Re: Blown fuse

Hi Steve

The wiring harness came from Lectric Limited.So did the Bulbs..I'm using a 20 amp fuse. Thats what it says on the fuse panel to use. When I disconnected and reconnected the cables, I did not see or hear a spark. But for some reason, it blows the tail light fuse.Here is something I forgot to mention.The front passenger side turn signal light stopped working also.I pulled the lens off and the bulb was loose. If I try to turn the bulb tight, I won't work. So I backed it off alittle and it works.I must not be getting a good connection in there. Could that be the problem with blowing the fuse? But it only seemed to blow when I disconnect the battery and reconnect.Like I said before, the whole harness etc. is new.

Thanks...John

[Bob R.]

Re: Blown fuse

Those bulbs don't screw in. They are spring loaded. You push in and 1/8 turn to the right. It sounds like you have a damaged wire and I would look at that parking light first. Sometimes the glass gets loose from the metal socket and you can turn the bulb. This might cause the blown fuse. Try removing the bulb completely and try the fuse again. If the problem is the bulb the fuse should hold.

[Don 42616]

Re: Blown fuse

Try removing wire plugs or bulbs for rear bulbs 1 at a time. Process of elimination. I had a rear light that I found out that the 2 bulb contacts did not line up to the 2 socket contacts. I did not turn the 1/8 & all worked well. The tight socket held the bulb in w/o the turn. Don

[Stephen L.]

Re: Blown fuse

It's tough troubleshooting from this seat.... remove the bulb completely, then turn the light switch off and leave it off. Connect the battery. Check the fuse. If it is blown then you need to determine what is "hot" with the switch off (doesn't get power from the switch). If the fuse is good then your problem is after the switch. Possibly you have a lite socket where the wiring is touching ground internal to the socket. You may need to remove all the connections at the lights and let them hang free. Then 1 by 1 connect them up until you find the problem. Many times the wiring connector doesn't fit very snuggly on the socket and you may have it twisted slightly.

[John O.]

Re: Blown fuse

Thanks guys for you ideas. I think I will try disconnecting the front parking light then disconnect and reconnect the battery cable to see if the fuse blows or holds together. I now believe the problem may be the socket in front.

Thanks again............John