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Electrical Gremlins #768108 11/28/06 06:26 AM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 27
AndyR Offline OP
Getting the Wheeling Fever
I have a few electrical problems that some of you might be able to shed a little light on here. I just replaced my horn with a compatible one from autozone, and when I hook it up, it blows the fuse. . . both of the leads coming off of the horn show a ground connection, and only one of them shows a negative reading. Is there a relay for this somewhere that could be bad / stuck on? Secondly, my rear defroster doesn't work, and yes, all my fuses are good (when the horn isn't connected). I checked the connectors back there and they also both show a ground connection, but they don't show any voltage when the switch is on. Is there a relay for this as well? And by the way, if you have any idea where the relays for these are, that information would be greatly appreciated before I start tearing things apart.
Also, not so much of a problem, my front dome light isn't working. It did work for about 10 minutes when I first started the car, but then abruptly quit on me. I replaced the bulb, and still no light. As you might be able to tell, i'm not much of an electrical guy, so anyone have any ideas? Thanks ahead of time guys.


1988 Trooper II in the works.
Re: Electrical Gremlins [Re: AndyR] #768109 11/28/06 11:13 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 281
R
RT1 Offline
Mudrunner
Ground connections can be dicey which is why manufacturers stick multiple ground straps all over the place. Some of them evenutally corrode to a point where they are passing some voltage but not enough to power what they're hooked up to. You see it a lot in cars with one dim headlight. Jiggle the connector to clean off the corrosion and it brightens up.

I'd start by checking all the fuses and connecting blocks. Take them apart, give them a shot of electrical contact cleaner and reassemble.
Check your main grounds to the frame and engine. If they are loose or corroded looking, take them off clean up the connector and the spot where it lands and bolt them up again. Same with the relays (in the box under the hood). I had a situation where my headlights would cut out and it turned out to be the connecting block under the dash where the interior wire harness met the harness in the engine compartment. The connection was just weak enough that the headlight relay would drop out. By eye it was clean, but it didn't work until I sprayed it with the contact cleaner and ran the plug in and out a few times. As for that horn it's either oversized or you have a dead short. Check the harness on the steering column for worn through insulation or melted wire.


'89 P'up, 2.6 I-Tec, 488,000 miles and done... gone to the great beyond







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