Taillights

[IL4Festiva]

My damn taillight fuse keeps blowing, as soon as i put a new one in and start it, it blows. can anyone give me an idea? can't really drive at night anymore..
thanks

[wrestler3025]

I would look for any breaks in your wiring. You've got a short somewhere. Good luck with it, electical is pretty elusive sometimes.

[turqfest]

Not to play the role of Capt. Obvious here or anything, but are you sure you have the right bulbs, and or right amperage fuse ?

[IL4Festiva]

well they worked for years on end and it was the fuse that was in it while it was working.. its a 15blue fuse, i dont know how the system works? can anyone confirm this is correct?

[IL4Festiva]

where does the tailight wiring start and end? and can i just replace the whole wire?

[milehighbear]

see which tailight it is first. Unhook one taillight completely, put fuse in, hit brake, see if fuse blows, if it doesnt, do the other one same way, it it does blow fuse on first one, still do the second one same way to make sure. You can also do a continuity test. Take brake light bulbs out, put fuse in. Put on test wire on center wire and put other wire to a ground. If needle moves or meter buzzes, you have a short somewhere. Test both lights this way. May only be on light doing it. Then its just a matter of following wires from lights forward. good luck

[smithtaka4n1]

I had the same problem and could not find a solution. I finallly put a 30 amp fuse in and shortly after smoke started coming from under the dash. That led me to the culprit. Maybe not the best or safest way to find the prblem but it worked for me.

[jglutz]

Simple test....
Disconnect the tail light connrctors at the til light and re-install a new fuse.
if the fuse blows...the problem is between the fuse block and connector.
if the fuse does not blow the problem is in the socket or lamp.

[rbrown]

Wait guys, he never said he hits the brakes and it blows.


Lets start simple. Put the fuse in and WHEN does it blow.
Hit brakes?
Turn on lights? Parking or full headlights?
Turn signals?
When started no lights on and running?

[CharlieZ]

Temporarily replace the fuse with a 12 volt bulb. You'll have to rig something. The bulb should be full on if there is a short to ground in the system. Remove one tail lamp at a time. The license plate light is on the same fuse as are the front "parking" (marker lights) and if you have a Euro-spec car, the side lamps are probably on this fuse. Removing bulbs might lead to a clue if there is a short in the lamp socket - but likely not. If not, leave that temporary bulb in the fuse panel and start moving, jiggling and twisting wires until the bulb goes out. The Tail/Marker lamp relay is up stream of the 15 amp fuse so that is not a likely suspect. The problem will be close at hand. Saves a lot of fuses that way. Let us know the results.