Popping fuses!!

[warblade21]

Hi,

I noticed that my dash lights don't work. I have replaced the fuse on it and when i turn on the lights it pops instantly. What do I do?

[mikepellegrini]

Something is shorted out. The fuse blows to prevent the wires from melting.

Have you changed anything recently, that would affect this? Replaced bulbs, had the instrument cluster out? Done any work on that area at all? Installed a radio?

Does the cigarette lighter work? I vaguely recall that's on the same circuit, at least on early cars.

If you can't attribute the short to some recent work you've done, then your only option is to take the instrument cluster apart to find out where the short is.

What year is your car?

[marky522]

This may help in your diagnosis. Take a test light, put it in place of the fuse, it should light up because you have a short to gound on one side and a power source on the other. Now while your digging around looking for it, if you do something and light goes off you found your problem.

MArk

[idontknow]

Does the fuse pop with the lights off? IIRC the license plate lights are tied with the illumination fuse.