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Re: Electrical Mystery

To: Tburke4@aol.com
Subject: Re: Electrical Mystery
From: public@sweavo.34sp.com
Date: Tue, 2 Nov 2004 22:34:27 +0000
Quoting Tburke4@aol.com:

> In a message dated 11/2/2004 4:19:58 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
> public@sweavo.34sp.com writes:

> Well, actually it was (b) and then it was (c). I found the fuse was blown 
> under the endcap, I put in another and pfft! So juice is reaching the three
> green wires on the downstream side of the fuse 

... or rather it wasn't cos the fuse *had* blown really :-)

> which includes all those 
> accessories. the heater is disconnected so it's out of the game. 

Ok. so one or more of those branches is shorting to ground.  

Take out the fuse, set your meter to kilo-ohms and test between the downstream
fuse contact and earth.  If you have a short (which is looking pretty certain)
then you should see the reading go near to zero.

If you disconnect the wiper motor and see the reading go up significantly, then
it looks like it was your wiper motor.  I think it's quite common for wiper
motors to short like this, but since you've been playing with other parts of
the wiring it's possible the problem is closer to that area instead.

If you see bare connectors anywhere en route, probably best to cover them in
tape as again, brushing against bare metal is bad.

> According to the schematic, two of the green wires are the wiper circuit. I 
> would disconnect the wiper but I'm now out of 35A fuses (Is that the right 
> one???). 

could be... your guess is better than mine at the moment!  My MkII has 35A UK
fuses so... that doesn't really help does it!

> I suspect I'll end up dealing with that third wire that carries
> juice to everything but the wipers and I am looking (desperately at this 
> point) for a way to figure out how to isolate each item and see which one 
> doesn't fry the fuse. 
> 
> I think I'll go to Radio Shack and look for a circuit breaker, but I'm not 
> sure what amperage I would need? 

Not sure, but make sure you get a DC one if they do them, and figure whether
you're talking about blow rating or hold rating.  I would probably do the
prodding around I mentioned above with a meter, and buy a bumper pack of the
fuse I need!

> Yes, I bench tested it. I still have to try an 8-track tape. Oddly, the 
> stores don't seem to have any.

there's a few in the thrift store in downtown santa barbara... I'm sure you'll
find some around.

> I suppose problems with Lucas are to be expected around Halloween. ;-) I 

heheh

or should that be Muhahahahah!





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