Electrical Help Need-indy Area

I got a short somewhere in my Painless wiring setup in my 40. anybody a wiring wizard in the indy/cincy area? thanks

 

which painless wiring panel do you have? i just had a problem with one too , took me a while to figure it out....maybe you have the same problem

 

I bought the 18 circuit universal harness. everything worked when i finished. then 1 month later, when i pulled my headlight switch on, it blows the 30 amp fuse.I used a new 4 position switch (not made by painless) to test, i took off the red hot wire and the headlight wire. i ran a jumper from the hot to the headlights. they worked (by p***ed the switch) does this mean the switch is bad or is something grounding out somewhere?

 

I would check the three way connector where the dimmer switch jumper connects. The wire terminals on my 18 wire painless backed out at this connector and can touch the sheet metal.

 

good point! i'll check the dimmer. thanks

 

well, i pulled the 3 wires from the dimmer, fuse popped. pulled the wires from the 2 heADLIGHTS, FUSE popped. GOT TO be the headlight switch right?

 

It would seem that way since you unpluged the switch and the lights worked. I would remove the switch and check the mounting to the headlamp terminal with an ohm meter for continuity in the on and off position. If the fuse blows when you pull the switch then the switch is grounding that circuit.

 

thanks, i'll check it out with the meter

 

One other thought, did the fuse blow when you pulled the switch to headlamp position? What about park position do the park and tail lights work and gauge lights work and when you continue to the headlamp position then the fuse blows? Try the switch removed from the car but still wired and see if the fuse blows. If the fuse blows remove the feed for the park lamps and try again if it is Ok then you have a short in the wire or filament of the park or tail lamps. A filament burned out can sometimes short to ground after it opens so are all of your park and tail lamps working? Good luck!

 

the fuse blows when i pull on the switch to 1st position (parking lights, tail lights)

 

Did you pull the park feed off and try the switch? Does the switch mounting have continuity to the terminals? If you want PM me with your phone number and a good time to call and I can walk you through trouble shooting the problem.

 

Also Try unplugging the following circuits from the HDLP SW one at a time (from your painless diagram) 927 Brn 16awg (park lps), 929 Brn 14awg (tail lps), and 930 Brn 18awg Instrument panel lamps). You might waste a few more fuses but this should find your short. Once the short is found unplug each load (i.e. bulb) on that line until you find the source.