Wiring Puzzle

[divezic]

Try to figure this one out.

Today I installed my new Hirschmann auto antenna. When I got it all hooked up I tested it and the dang thing did not come up. I've never had this problem before...no really

Anyway, I broke out my multimeter to test the wiring and I found out that I did not hook up the accessory wire from my new radio to the antenna lead. I screwed up and my wife says that's not so puzzling.

Now for the puzzle. By accident I jumped the red antenna wire to ground. This red wire has 12V when the key is in the ignition in either accessory or on. When I jumped the wire my AC cooling fan kicked on. I can't figure out by the wiring diagram how the hot antenna wire, when grounded, provides a ground for the fan relay. Any ideas? Just trying to make sure my wiring isn't all hosed up.

[divezic]

Update. This is getting weird.

First a correction. It is the radiator cooling fan not the AC fan that kicks on. The AC fan does not operate at all.

Antenna all hooked up. When I turn the radio on, the antenna does nothing but the radiator cooling fan turns on.

Somehow the ground to the antenna through the red wire is switching on the cooling fan realy.

The only thing I did wiring-wise was to install a new radio. But, this is the first time I have had the auto antenna hooked up since I installed the new radio.

Does anybody know where the red wire for the antenna goes through? A relay? Which fuse? Helllllllppppppp!!!!!!!

[divezic]

OK so I'll answer this one myself.

I realized that I was missing the #3 upper fuse. I replaced it and the antenna and fan work OK.

I still can't figure out why the Fan turns on when the radio is on with the fuse missing???????

[SoCal Driver]

Electricity is just like water....

That is; you turn on the radio and the electricity goes to the antenna, back to the fuse then through fans to ground!

You don't have the antenna grounded properly.

Really should have a seperate fuse to the antenna motor and connect the antenna to the hot side of the fuse bank. I had an antenna go berzerk, stay "on" and drain the battery. The antenna was connected to the hot side of the fuse bank.

Now that I think about it the antenna motor may not have blown a fuse as this was a stalled motor load. Hmmm.

So if you break an electrical conduit all of the electrons just run out on the ground....

[cweatherington]

The reason the fan kicked on is they (antenna and fan) are on the same circuit. The fan has a constant power supply and is controlled by switching the ground. My guess would be that you provided the ground rather then the temp swicth, A/C switch, etc.

Just a thought.
Chris

[divezic]

Agreed, but what confuses me is that the fuse was missing. Where did the 12 V come from?

[SoCal Driver]

Originally posted by divezic
Agreed, but what confuses me is that the fuse was missing. Where did the 12 V come from?

From your fans. The ground was made through the electric antenna motor. The missing fuse re-directed the electrons!

"Lift your feet there's electrons all over the floor!"

"OK! Who broke that conduit?"