Proper Procedure for Finding a Short?

[pontiacgp]

Tracing intermittent shorts is a huge PITA. If you put a fuse in and it pops immediately, your short is touching ground, so this is the best time to run it down. Since you mention courtesy lights in your circuit analysis, the dome light might be to blame. The hot wire goes directly to the light, the ground side goes to the bayonet switch on the door jamb near the hinges. With the door close, the ground is disconnected. With the door open, a spring pushes the switch into contact with the body. Squeeze and remove the dome light cover, pull the bulb. Disconnect the hot lead at the battery. Use a multimeter, connect the ground wire to the body. With the door open if both bulb terminals read zero resistance then it's in that line.

You're right, I meant to say resistance.....

 

[Dayzedandkonfuzed]

So would you consider my readings to be zero? Obviously there's bound to be a little resistance through a length of wire

 

[pontiacgp]

So would you consider my readings to be zero? Obviously there's bound to be a little resistance through a length of wire

have you tried unplugging the lighter to see if that cures the problem?

 

[Dayzedandkonfuzed]

Well, this has been an issue for at least 2 years lol. Long ago I rewired the deck and lighter to the battery with an inline fuse so my sirius radio would work lol. So this lighter circuit has been unplugged the whole time really.

 

[pontiacgp]

You have been blowing fuses for 2 years?...and I thought I was a champion procrastinator..😎

 

[pontiacgp]

You have been blowing fuses for over 2 years?...and I thought I was a procrastinator..😎

 

[Dayzedandkonfuzed]

No I've just gone without my courtesy lights and horn for 2 years lol

But back to my last question, are my resistance readings considered to be zero?

 

[Dayzedandkonfuzed]

Look what I found

This is the accessory junction block I keep reading about. Its under the dash, right above the left kick panel. The small 1 wire connector is the main power feed, the small 2-wire connector is for the interior lights, I'm pretty sure the big one is for the horn although my horn still doesn't work, but I can hear the relay clicking now. There was one more small 2 cavity plug with only one orange wire that I don't have plugged in, doesn't seem to be for the lighter. I'm thinking the lights on buzzer, but haven't verified that yet.

 

[Dayzedandkonfuzed]

Not for the lights on buzzer, but I found that...

Yes that's a hole burnt through it

 

[ssn696]

Seat belt buzzer? Did cutting this out stop the fuse popping?