Hi all,
Been working on my 78 SC all weekend, running down an electrical conundrum that began 3 weeks ago. To make a long story short, a dead battery has lead me to the discovery that the PO had put a 25 Amp fuse in #4 (Front & Rear Parking Lights w/ engine compartment light--left), which should have been a 5 Amp fuse. Result...toasted wiring. The first 4 inches of the wire bubbled up and were burning through ALL of the other wires touching it.
When I was done with the immediate repair, I put an 8 Amp fuse in and the running lights came on for a split second before the fuse blew. When I put the 25 Amp fuse back in (just to test the light for a split second!!!!) the lights no longer worked.
I checked the voltage across all of the fuses in the trunk compartment with the running lamps turned on, and found #3 (Front & rear parking lights--right) pulling .07 volts, #10 (front flasher lights) drawing .02 volts, and #18 (interior clock, glove compartment, etc) drawing .03 volts. Nothing too alarming here; but when I checked the draw from #4 using the volt meter, 12.40 volts were being sucked from the short(s) created by the 25 Amp fuse.
Is there any quick fix to this? Can I get my running lights back by bypassing the existing circuit (isolating it and insulating the cut ends), running the front running lights off of new wiring, and the back lights off of the right rear circuit without any further serious injury to the electrical system? OR...Should I just admit to myself that I have to chase that entire wire down, check every wire it crosses/touches and look for EVERY possible breach in the wiring insulation?!?
I'm hoping there is an alternative to the latter scenario...doubt there is but I'm hopeful. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thanks for your help and Happy New Year!!!
Jim