Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > Off-Topic Tech
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 08-03-2011, 09:54 PM   #1 (permalink)
My Goal: 35 MPG All Day
 
RandomFact314's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 684

1NZ-FE (Year 1) - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
Team Toyota
Last 3: 34.02 mpg (US)

1NZ-FE (Year 2) - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
90 day: 33.32 mpg (US)

1NZ-FE (Year 3) - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
90 day: 35.32 mpg (US)

1NZ-FE (Year 4) - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
90 day: 34 mpg (US)

1NZ-FE (Year 5) - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
90 day: 26.87 mpg (US)

1NZ-FE (Years 6,7,8) - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
90 day: 28.6 mpg (US)

1NZ-FE (Years 9,10,11) - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
90 day: 27.8 mpg (US)

1NZ-FE (Years 12,13,14) - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
90 day: 27.11 mpg (US)
Thanks: 39
Thanked 36 Times in 25 Posts
Break light fuse blowing instantly

I have a 1997 Civic, the break lights were not working so I checked the fuse first. The car calls for a 15A fuse and had a burnt 20A fuse in it. I replaced the fuse but only had another 20A and not a 15A so I went ahead and put that 20A in, I hit the breaks, it turned on for a millisecond and the fuse blew... Any ideas whats going on?


Last edited by RandomFact314; 08-04-2011 at 12:49 AM..
  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 08-03-2011, 11:31 PM   #2 (permalink)
(:
 
Frank Lee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
Thanked 3,555 Times in 2,218 Posts
They're aptly named "break lights".
__________________


  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Frank Lee For This Useful Post:
Gasoline Fumes (08-04-2011)
Old 08-03-2011, 11:32 PM   #3 (permalink)
Pishtaco
 
SentraSE-R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,485

Mean Green Toaster Machine - '06 Scion xB
Team Toyota
90 day: 48.92 mpg (US)
Thanks: 56
Thanked 286 Times in 181 Posts
The circuit is shorting to ground. Trace it looking for an exposed bare wire, pinched wiring, or a frayed wire.
__________________
Darrell

Boycotting Exxon since 1989, BP since 2010
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? George Carlin
Mean Green Toaster Machine
49.5 mpg avg over 53,000 miles. 176% of '08 EPA
Best flat drive 94.5 mpg for 10.1 mi
Longest tank 1033 km (642 mi) on 10.56 gal = 60.8 mpg
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to SentraSE-R For This Useful Post:
RandomFact314 (08-10-2011)
Old 08-04-2011, 08:23 AM   #4 (permalink)
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 239
Thanks: 0
Thanked 17 Times in 15 Posts
You can also test it first with no bulbs in any sockets, then add each one and test it might help narrow down area that is shorted .
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to EdKiefer For This Useful Post:
RandomFact314 (08-10-2011)
Old 08-04-2011, 03:51 PM   #5 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
NeilBlanchard's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Maynard, MA Eaarth
Posts: 7,907

Mica Blue - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
Team Toyota
90 day: 42.48 mpg (US)

Forest - '15 Nissan Leaf S
Team Nissan
90 day: 156.46 mpg (US)

Number 7 - '15 VW e-Golf SEL
TEAM VW AUDI Group
90 day: 155.81 mpg (US)
Thanks: 3,475
Thanked 2,950 Times in 1,844 Posts
You may have a break in the brake lights?

It could be a water leak or corrosion causing a short, maybe?
__________________
Sincerely, Neil

http://neilblanchard.blogspot.com/
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2011, 03:36 AM   #6 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Colorado
Posts: 28

'Stache Builder - '92 Honda Civic VX
90 day: 42.58 mpg (US)

White Dwarf - '09 Mazda 5
90 day: 28.87 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts
I would start by checking the bulbs/sockets first. I have seen too many cars with incorrect/broken bulbs. I have also seen lots with corrosion. Then I would check for any aftermarket alarms, amps, subs and where they tied in to the vehicle wiring.

You can always put a paperclip in where the fuse goes and do a "smoke test." Just kidding!
__________________
1992 Civic VX


  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Hatchtastic For This Useful Post:
RandomFact314 (08-10-2011)
Old 08-10-2011, 04:26 PM   #7 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Russellville, KY
Posts: 540
Thanks: 8
Thanked 33 Times in 27 Posts
Could also be a shorted out brake light switch, but more likely a poor connection or bare wire somewhere in the brake system.
__________________



  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Ford Man For This Useful Post:
RandomFact314 (08-10-2011)
Old 08-11-2011, 12:28 PM   #8 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Phantom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Independence, KY
Posts: 603

Blue Meanie - '02 Volkswagon Golf TDI
TEAM VW AUDI Group
90 day: 48.52 mpg (US)

Wife's car - '05 WV Passat TDI

Rudy - '94 Chevy C2500
Thanks: 89
Thanked 47 Times in 44 Posts
First I would check the wires from the sockets as far back to the battery as you can and check from the fuse to out, also look under the dash and check from the break switch back. After that I would remove all bulbs replace the fuse and press the break check the fuse, then reinstall one light checking the socket for an obstruction and the bulb to make sure one of the contact wires is not crossing over shorting it out. From there keep adding one light at a time till it blows.

When it blows remove the last light you tried and add the next light leaving the one it blew on out and see if it happens again. If it blew on the last light (all installed) remove one or the previous lights and use it in the last socket (the one that blew it). If it blows the fuse this time you have located the one that is grounded out and you will need to check that socket and wiring from end to start.

If it only blows with all installed it is a draw problem and could be a PIA to find or could have some corrosion on/in the wires could have happened if there was a leak in the trunk at one time and it has wicked down the wire or could be on the engine/fuse box side with the same issue.
__________________
I move at the speed of awesome.


"It's not rocket surgery!" -MetroMPG
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2011, 07:30 PM   #9 (permalink)
My Goal: 35 MPG All Day
 
RandomFact314's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 684

1NZ-FE (Year 1) - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
Team Toyota
Last 3: 34.02 mpg (US)

1NZ-FE (Year 2) - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
90 day: 33.32 mpg (US)

1NZ-FE (Year 3) - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
90 day: 35.32 mpg (US)

1NZ-FE (Year 4) - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
90 day: 34 mpg (US)

1NZ-FE (Year 5) - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
90 day: 26.87 mpg (US)

1NZ-FE (Years 6,7,8) - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
90 day: 28.6 mpg (US)

1NZ-FE (Years 9,10,11) - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
90 day: 27.8 mpg (US)

1NZ-FE (Years 12,13,14) - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
90 day: 27.11 mpg (US)
Thanks: 39
Thanked 36 Times in 25 Posts
OK so I went out and bought another 4 fuses the other day so I can try to figure this problem out.

Try 1: Went outside and pulled out the brake bulbs and put a new fuse in, it blew instantly.

Try 2: I started looking around for noticeably odd wiring, and thought "Well if I can just get my 3ed brake light to work then It will atleast be more safe" so I looked at it and noticed it was unplugged and the wires that plugged into it was plugged into something else so I unplugged that and put a new fuse in.

Turned on the lights and the tails DO light up now! woot!

Now I just gotta go buy some bulbs because out of the 2 in the car and the extra 2 I had in the house, only 1 worked. I had another one that just did the low beam but not the high (for when you touch the breaks)

BTW: Horn works now too! yay
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2011, 10:41 PM   #10 (permalink)
Pishtaco
 
SentraSE-R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,485

Mean Green Toaster Machine - '06 Scion xB
Team Toyota
90 day: 48.92 mpg (US)
Thanks: 56
Thanked 286 Times in 181 Posts
Good detective work. Congratz.

__________________
Darrell

Boycotting Exxon since 1989, BP since 2010
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? George Carlin
Mean Green Toaster Machine
49.5 mpg avg over 53,000 miles. 176% of '08 EPA
Best flat drive 94.5 mpg for 10.1 mi
Longest tank 1033 km (642 mi) on 10.56 gal = 60.8 mpg
  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Tags
blowing, civic, fuse, honda, instantly

Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com