fuses popping

[datablitz]

i have a buddy that is having problems with his tail lights and his dash lights, the fuses blow about every 10 miles..... and his starter is also moving slower





he has recentally installed a new battery... . its a 92 250 4x4



any ideas on a problem or solution?



thanks

 

[sparks57]

I'm going to state the obviouse.



Has he checked all wiring and grounds? What about the battery ground? Is he sure the battery cables and ground strap was put back on correctly?

 

[ani17uk]

Had the same problem. The fuses keep on blowing every five seconds on my dash and tail lights. Make sure that all of your fuses are the correct ones. The headlight switch my be bad from all of the fuses that you have blown from it getting hot. I had a problem with my trailer wiring because it kept on scraping on a piece of metal and that is where it shorted out. Hope this helps



Animal

 

[sparks57]

That's another thing... headlight switches do go out on occasion. Does he have many running lights? I have 30 of them, so all my lights run off of relays instead of right off the headlight switch.



All the running lights on a big trailer can really tax your headlight switch.

 

[datablitz]

doesnt have any extra lighting other than maybe fog lights, but they are on a toggle switch... . i will have him check his trailer harness

 

[RGT]

I had a problem with my rear tail light, the sockets were getting salt and crud off the road in them they were rusted up solid when I changed them, the ones I got from the HELP rack at the autoparts store were pretty crappy, but they worked. I think they were listed a being for a Ford, but were the same... .

 

[dpuckett]

I've had 3 of them go bad on 3 trucks; SRWs and DRWs, so it isnt limited to just duallies and their extra lights.



I've tried to use the HELP sockets- they are junk at best. The Ford listed parts work better than the Chrysler listed parts. Think I got mine from a junkyard, though.

CB Parker- obviouse? Need to cut back, boy. Pace yerself. Maybe you arent ready for the "upgrade" I mentioned yesterday That or get a non-defective keyboard.

Headlight switch failures are a common thing here.

Daniel

 

[prototech]

I would check the trailer wiring, unless you installed it your self and are very confident about your connections, even then I have seen the best of install jobs rot out and short out. The other place to check is the wiring harness behind the stereo, if it has an after market stereo they may have cut into the harness or pinched a wire, there is at least one dash light wire tied into that harness. In my 10+ years of car stereo installation experience I have seen that wire short out the park lights and dash lights hundreds of times, especially on backyard installs.

proto

 

[phillips5]

He stated that the was starting slow that makes me think grounds. does the fuse just blow or do the lights have to be on. My rear lights are on a relay like CB parker's. To many trailer lights get the light swith hot.

 

[datablitz]

proto, he has an aftermarket stereo, but it has a plug in, to plug in adapter, so no cut wires... . he doesnt use his trailer harness to pull trailer, so a load from a trailer wouldnt be an issue (trailer doesnt even have lights ) but i have advised to check the switch, the harness, and grounds for a start, as well as the rear sockets.

 

[prototech]

Find out where the wiring is hooked to for the trailer light wiring on the truck, I've seen some pretty wierd connections, everything from black tape to quick connections to no insulation at all. also wires which are not in wire loom and proprely secured can rub on body parts and the frame and wear through the insulation. the best connection is soldered with heat shrink tubing, the next best is a crimp connector with heat shrink tubing. The harness behind the radio and the aftermarket plug can still get pinched and short out, there is a dash light wire in the after market plug and it is often not connected as few stereo's have externally controlled light switches so alot of times it is forgoten, it should be capped if it is not being used. You can also unplug the plug and see if it still blows the fuse and that will tell you if it is in the stereo or plug. good luck, never rule any thing out until you have checked it I have wasted alot of time by assuming something was good without checking it!

Proto