tail light fuse blowing
 

My tail light fuse keeps blowing (the one in the engine compartment). I'm guessing there's a short somewhere but cant seem to track it down. Is this a common problem with an easy fix?

If you have a trailer light harness in the back, see if it is corroded.

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Re: tail light fuse blowing
 

Don't have one but the wiring to one of my fog lights is looking a little rough. I'll check it out. Thanks!

Re: tail light fuse blowing
 

Tracked it down to the dimmer switch. Turn it to med high or on and it blows the fuse. Anyone else ever have this problem?

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Holly crap!!!!! 109 bucks for a new switch. Thinking I'm going to red neck engineer it!

Re: tail light fuse blowing
 

go get a new switch from the junkyard man

Re: tail light fuse blowing
 

x2, I don't think the dimmer switch is easily rigged because of a floating ground system

Re: tail light fuse blowing
 

I also say you should get one from a salvage yard. shouldn't be very expensive at all.

Regards,
Wily

Re: tail light fuse blowing
 

The salvage yards out here are somewhat lacking... I'm thinking it may not be the switch, or maybe it is, I don't know. I have it in now and as long as I keep it half way down the fuse doesn't blow. The dash lights however do not work. The idiot lights are on but gauge lights and heater/ac light not so much.

Re: tail light fuse blowing
 

wtf are the idiot lights?

Re: tail light fuse blowing
 

check engine, check guage, charging system...those lol

Re: tail light fuse blowing
 

Well it sounds to me like it could be the dimmer switch or it could be a problem in the cluster or stereo backlighting. It's a 50/50 shot. Increasing the dimmer increases the current draw and a problem on the circuit or the switch would manifest itself exactly the same. You might want to try bypassing the dimmer all together and see if it pops the fuse.

Re: tail light fuse blowing
 

I used a jumper wire to mimic the switch being on high and the fuse blew. Does this tell me its not the switch? Maybe I just jumped it wrong. Anyone know where I can get a wiring diagram?

Re: tail light fuse blowing
 

If the switch was totally disconnected when you did this, it tells me the problem is in the cluster or stereo backlighting.

Re: tail light fuse blowing
 

The switch was out when I did that. I have an after market stereo (using original harness) I'm pretty sure its all working correctly. I did have the cluster out and when I put it back in it worked fine for a day or so. I pulled it today and there is no obvious sign of bare wires or anything like that. I have a multimeter but am unsure what to test or how. I miss my dash lights!

Re: tail light fuse blowing
 

Well, I would start by disconnecting the backlighting wire from the aftermarket stereo and see if the problem goes away. Some aftermarket stereos do not use this wire anyway. If yours does use it, just disconnect it.