Electrical experts...blowing fuses

[8950HO]

A few days ago the factory radio and interior lights stopped working.

The 15amp fuse that protects the courtesy lamps,key warning buzzer,fuel filler door release,radio,and power mirror was blown.

I tried a new 15amp fuse and it blew the instant it made contact.A second fuse did the same.

Any ideas as to a likely cause in this circuit?
I haven`t looked close yet and rarely come across these electrical problems.

 

[Aaron]

An electrical problem is caused by one of two things.
Either you have a wire that rubbed bare and is touching metal (most common), or an accessory is shorting out and drawing too much power. Electrical problems are always tough to find, but easy to fix once you have isolated the problem.
Have you done any work on the car lately? Have you taken off and put back on any interior trim or panel pieces? Look for problems in the areas you recently worked in. Whenever I've had this problem, it's been related to me not being careful and knicking a wire.

 

[billison]

i had the same thing,kept blowing everything inside, and sometimes my tail lights, i had a wire behind the radio rubbin

 

[HISSIN50]

I'm with Billison. Lookin at commonalities, the radio harness is a bit of a problematic issue with the illumination wire shorting to ground, and your stereo fuse is having issues.

Good luck.

 

[8950HO]

the radio harness is a bit of a problematic issue with the illumination wire shorting to ground,


Can you explain this more?
Do you mean insulation wearing off the wire and it`s touching the body?

There`s quite a few wires going to the radio...no idea which is the illumination wire.

Had the radio out and dash partially removed to do the heater core,but that was roughly 4 months ago.Everything worked fine up until two days ago.

Probably going to be a pita tracking it down.

 

[HISSIN50]

A common issue with foxes is having the illumination wire find its way to metal and short out. The wire is orange with a stripe and is often not used with aftermarket decks. If the end is not insulated, a short can occur.

In your case it really could be a pinched wire. It might have taken a while of chafing to wear through.

In any case it should like the radio has gotta come out for a wiring inspection, so it's easy to check out. A test light connected to 12 volts and the illumination wire can help find the short.

Good luck.

 

[8950HO]

Update.

Took out the radio this afternoon and the wiring looked ok.
Then I tried another fuse with the radio disconnected and the interior lights came on and the fuse didn`t blow.

I hooked the radio back up and it works fine.

After blowing 3 fuses,everything is now working properly.

I`ll keep my fingers crossed for now.

 

[billison]

you probly moved what ever was the problem

 

[I_AM_CANADIAN]

Let us hope you don't bump the car too much lol.

 

[billison]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bqouY6qiUtc

 

[8950HO]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bqouY6qiUtc

I might take another look at that radio wiring.Couldn`t see anything wrong the first time.