Home  |  Forums  |  914 Info  |  Blogs
 
914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
 
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way.
Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

 
 Reply to this topicStart new topic
> My first breakdown away from home. . WEIRD
mrholland2
post Apr 15 2012, 09:24 PM
Post #1


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 760
Joined: 7-September 11
From: Santa Maria,CA
Member No.: 13,531
Region Association: Central California
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) Okay, following suggestions, I used "Zoom Spout" to lubricate the speedo and cable. . some improvement. However, why I turned on my headlights after, the "main fuse" (added inline with the battery) blew. Pulling the speedo and disconnecting every bulb and ground to the speedo eliminates the fuse blowing. Could having the wrong light in the wrong place cause the fuse to blow? Or did I screw something up? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

Thanks
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
mrbubblehead
post Apr 15 2012, 10:45 PM
Post #2


Twodollardoug
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,155
Joined: 17-December 10
From: calimesa ca.
Member No.: 12,492
Region Association: Southern California
QUOTE(mrholland2 @ Apr 15 2012, 08:24 PM) *

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) Okay, following suggestions, I used "Zoom Spout" to lubricate the speedo and cable. . some improvement. However, why I turned on my headlights after, the "main fuse" (added inline with the battery) blew. Pulling the speedo and disconnecting every bulb and ground to the speedo eliminates the fuse blowing. Could having the wrong light in the wrong place cause the fuse to blow? Or did I screw something up? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

Thanks


sounds like your on the right trouble shooting path.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
mrholland2
post Apr 15 2012, 11:10 PM
Post #3


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 760
Joined: 7-September 11
From: Santa Maria,CA
Member No.: 13,531
Region Association: Central California
So, are the three little light bulbs/sockets all "equal"? or is one unique?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Dave_Darling
post Apr 16 2012, 09:34 AM
Post #4


914 Idiot
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 15,051
Joined: 9-January 03
From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona
Member No.: 121
Region Association: Northern California
Which bulbs? There is one "idiot light" in the speedo (high beam or parking light, I forget which) and at least a couple of illumination lights.

Some (most) of the lights will ground through their sockets. Few (or possibly none here?) will ground through a separate ground wire. If there are two plugs on the bulb holder, make sure you don't get them mixed up. The ground should have zero (or just about) resistance to the outside of the holder, and the "hot" should show the resistance of the bulb from its connector to the outside of the holder.

Dig out your ohmmeter and start checking resistances to ground. If you can narrow down where your short is, you can check that wire/bulb/whatever more closely.

If you don't have an ohmmeter, get over to Rat Shack or your FLAPS and pick up a cheap $20 multimeter. The cheap ones are more than good enough for automotive work on our old cars.

--DD
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ape914
post Apr 16 2012, 10:26 AM
Post #5


red locktite
**

Group: Retired Members
Posts: 240
Joined: 7-February 11
From: In front of a computer
Member No.: 12,676
Region Association: None
conductive grease causing shorts???? did you remove the speedo cable at the meter befroe this happened? if so maybe something got bumped then?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Katmanken
post Apr 16 2012, 11:22 AM
Post #6


You haven't seen me if anybody asks...
****

Group: Members
Posts: 4,738
Joined: 14-June 03
From: USA
Member No.: 819
Region Association: Upper MidWest
Were there any additives in the oil?

Both moly and graphite are sometimes used as a lubricant, and both conduct electricity.

When not being used as a lubricant, moly is used to make electrical heater wires and rods, and graphite is used to make electrically conducting brushes in electrical motors and generators.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
mrholland2
post Apr 16 2012, 01:18 PM
Post #7


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 760
Joined: 7-September 11
From: Santa Maria,CA
Member No.: 13,531
Region Association: Central California
I'm a bit afraid that the lubricant is conducting somewhere weird. . but I can't see how it would get INSIDE The little sockets of the bulbs.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
mrholland2
post Apr 16 2012, 07:49 PM
Post #8


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 760
Joined: 7-September 11
From: Santa Maria,CA
Member No.: 13,531
Region Association: Central California
Okay. . it is NOT the lubricant. I traced back to the switch but ran out of time and patience.

Next step: disconnecting the wires (they are spliced in) from the light switch to see if the switch is grounding or ALL the wires are (well, one wire, but they are bundled in a connector).

I might need new "sockets" for the itty bitty teeny lights that go into the ventilation controls as they are deteriorated beyond use. Any suggestions?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
mrholland2
post Apr 17 2012, 05:25 PM
Post #9


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 760
Joined: 7-September 11
From: Santa Maria,CA
Member No.: 13,531
Region Association: Central California
Okay, it isn't the dash lights. But before a fuse popped, I noticed one of the tail lights out, but the bulb isn't burned out. That's the next place. I HATE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS!!!!!!

And now I have to re-create part of the behind the dash wiring because I just CAN'T reinstall what I removed. .it is oogy.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Dave_Darling
post Apr 17 2012, 06:47 PM
Post #10


914 Idiot
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 15,051
Joined: 9-January 03
From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona
Member No.: 121
Region Association: Northern California
How about the license plate lights? If the wires on those get switched around, you'll keep popping the instrument light fuse the instant you turn the lights on.

HINT: One of the terminals on the license plate light has continuity with one of the mounting screws. Which (eventually) has continuity to the car's chassis. That one should get the brown wire, but it's easy to swap them...

--DD
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
mrholland2
post Apr 17 2012, 07:25 PM
Post #11


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 760
Joined: 7-September 11
From: Santa Maria,CA
Member No.: 13,531
Region Association: Central California
Actually, we added a battery fuse (currently 15 Amps, but usually 20 AMps. . just using 15 for light experimenting) and THAT is the fuse that gets popped as soon as I turn the lights on.

My next check is all those in the back, as there was considerable rooting around back there (giggity)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
« Next Oldest · 914World Garage · Next Newest »
 

Reply to this topicStart new topic
2 User(s) are reading this topic (2 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

Display Mode: Standard · Switch to: Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 31st October 2024 - 10:28 PM
Invision Power Board v9.1.4 © 2024  IPS, Inc.
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community!
We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ...