Hot Rods blown stop and turn signal fuses

My 32 Highboy blew the stop and turn signal fuses. Taillites appear ok but new fuse blows on depressing brake. Turn signals and Flashers not working. I need suggestions.

 

Check for a short cut are pinched wire in the feed for the signal switch. Least that’s what I’d do

 

Sounds like your missing a ground and it’s back feeding .


Are the turn signals lighting up just not flashing or doing nothing ?

I have had dual filament bulbs blow and one filament touches the other snd it’s an internal short in the bulb.

 

blown fuses are usually caused by a short circuit. A wire is making contact with the body or frame somewhere. Could even be in the socket at the lamp.

Slow, careful, methodical inspection of all the wiring that goes to the rear lights, is the first place to start.

 

The brake and turns should be separate power circuits, if you're taking both fuses out when you operate either circuit that points to the turn switch as that's the only place where they interact. If it's blowing the fuse on one circuit only when operating that circuit only, then the problem could be downstream from the switch. If you replace the fuse for the turns, does that fuse blow if either side is turned on, or just one side? If either side, it's the switch. Just one side, check the wiring for that side turn/brake light downstream from the switch. It could also possibly be shorted wiring in the column, maybe rubbing/pinched by something. To test the switch, unplug the switch from the harness and test the wiring/contacts. The test procedure is here... Turn Signal Wiring How-to | The H.A.M.B. (jalopyjournal.com)

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I suspect something in the wiring to or in the turn signal switch. When they blew I had just tuned on the left signal and mashed the brakes at about the same time.

 

What column does it have?

 

Yeah, check the switch. When you turned on the left signal that should have separated the circuits and if the problem was downstream from the switch you would have only taken one fuse out.

 

The question was asked and is an important one. What column or turn signal switch are you using? They are not all wired the same so any previous replies are assumptions.

What wiring harness?

With a new fuse does it blow when trying the turn signal or only on the brakes?

 

I have an EZ wiring harness and Ididit column and switch. Have not had a chance to check turn signal switch yet but I do have a diagram/color chart.

 

Update: Brake and turn signal light problems came from a shorted wire. Turns out whoever installed the harness failed to remove or insulate the third brake light wire in the harness. Since the car had no third brake light it was left loose to eventually short out. Turn signal fuse was blown because signal was on when the short occurred.

Second problem popped when doing above repair. Headlight circuit shorted out . When I peeled the carpet back I noticed the floor mounted dimmer was not mounted securely and that the harness connect to dimmer was bent up. When I moved the dimmer it fell apart. This one was an easy diagnoses and fix.

Believe it or not, a third problem showed up a day later. Car would not start. Checked Neutral Lockout Switch, OK. Wire from MLS to starter appeared bad. When I went to remove wire from NLS it fell out of the connector. Bad crimp. Both wires. After all this everything is going OK.

Moral of the story: Just because a person can wire a car, it doesn't mean they can wire it well.

 

Great to hear you got it sorted. And with that, I bid you Goodnight. Sorry had to do it. LOL.