Interior Lights Keep Shorting Out- Common problem?

[CityW42]

I replaced the 20a fuse in my car and all the lights on the inside immediately came on.

I opened the car doors a few times and all the lights worked as normal.

I came out an hour later, opened the door and sat in the seat for a second as I was fiddling with the radio and the lights went out. I popped the fuse out and sure enough it was blown again.

Is there a common place where this may short out? I'm hoping so as I won't have to spend hours tracing wires around.

 

[Blake442]

I'd start with the radio. Is it the original radio or something aftermarket?

 

[CityW42]

I'd start with the radio. Is it the original radio or something aftermarket?

It's an aftermarket Kenwood head unit.

 

[pontiacgp]

was the radio recently installed.... was an adapter used or was the connector in the car removed?

 

[CityW42]

was the radio recently installed.... was an adapter used or was the connector in the car removed?

The radio was installed last year by a professional installer. I've yet to pull the radio out to inspect how it was done.

They did a complete system in the car, all new speakers, amps, 2 subs, the whole deal.

 

[pontiacgp]

will the fuse blow with the door open?

 

[CityW42]

will the fuse blow with the door open?

Yea, it blows when the door is kept open and the lights stay on for a few minutes.

If you open and close the door, it's fine....but if you keep the door open for a period of time, the fuse blows.

 

[Blake442]

The dome lights, radio and cigarette lighter are all on the same fuse.
Aftermarket radios often get spliced into the lighter wiring for their constant power supply, which can lead to frequently blown fuses due to the higher demand on the circuit. Time to pull the radio out and see what that audio shop did wrong...

 

[pontiacgp]

Blake is right but I'd try one thing before removing the radio.... I'd leave the passenger door open with the driver's door shut to see if that blows the fuse....if the fuse doesn't blow then it is probably the driver's door light pin

 

[67rstbkt]

Before you get crazy with this, make sure there are no foreign objects in the cigarrete lighter (like a penny), and make sure it's not all corroded.