My turn signals stopped working one day. I checked the fuse and it was blown. I replaced the blown fuse and the turn signals worked without a hitch. A few days later, they stopped working again. I checked the fuse and once again it was blown. I replaced the fuse and it blew almost immeadiately. I replaced the fuse again, same thing. I noticed that the reverse lights weren't working, so I checked the wiring at the taillights and pulled the bulbs to check for damage; there wasn't any. I put a new fuse in (20amp) and checked it today. It was melted.

So now I obviously have a short somewhere in the wiring. The hazards work fine, and the fuse for that circuit hasn't ever blown. Since the hazards work fine, but the reverse lights don't work at all, it seems that I have a problem with that circuit.

Does anyone know where I should look for the problem? Is there a most common place where that circuit will short out? I'm really frustrated because I could possibly get into an accident without turn signals, not to mention it makes me look like a total ***** to other drivers.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

 

Best bet is to look at places you've disturbed (especially if you've done anything recently)...maybe a wire got pinched under the console when you did the shifter in your signature? Anything installed or done under the dash recently? Try replacing the fuse, then using ONLY the turn signals. If it doesn't blow, try other things one at a time; i.e. reverse, brakes, etc. until it does...that'll tell you which circuits are shorted and from there you can find the common link.

 

I haven't installed anything recently. I tired using just the turn signals and it didn't blow, so therefore it must be the reverse lights. Plus the reverse lights didn't even turn on with a big fuse, so I know soemthing is jacked up there.

 

Nobody has any ideas???

 

2 places to check to see if the wires are shorted to ground. With the power off, pull the bulb and measure from the power contacts to ground with a meter. See if it's shorted to ground. The other place is at the fuse holder. Look near the bulbs in the back of the car where the wires pass through the frame. See if any of the wires are rubbed through.

 

Thanks a lot. I'm a novice at diagnosing electrical problems.....If the circuits are shorted to ground, will the voltmeter then show battery voltage at the power contacts?

 

Not usually unless it's intermittent. The power side may be touching ocassionally. Put the meter on the power side and the other lead on ground. The meter I have has a beeper so I don't have to look at the meter. Then wiggle the wires and see if you can get continuity to ground.

 

If I was a betting man, I would bet on the reverse backup switch.
Located on pass. side of tranny.

Replace fuse....start car and put shifter in reverse, do nothing else. Shut car off and check fuse. Blown?
Yes. Replace reverse backup switch.
No. I lost the bet!!!

 

I was thinking it could be that, I checked the wiring at the taillights, and it looked fine. How do I get at the switch? Through the console or from under the car?

Thanks again guys.

 

The reverse backup switch screws into the pass. side of tranny.
Raise car and you can see it from under the car. Very easy to swap and it cost like ~$12.

 

--------------******UPDATE*****--------------

I put a new fuse in, did nothing else but put the car into reverse and "POP" I heard the fuse blow. So that's good news!!! At least I know it's on the backup lights circuit.

So now, you guys think that the switch could cause fuses to blow? Where can I buy this switch, and does anybody have the part #? Is there any way to check the switch for functionality? Thanks a lot for all your help.

 

Now, finish my instructions.
You proved that the switch is bad.
It's only ~$12 at Autozone.

 

This is odd... My friend's '95 Camaro Z28 M6 is doing the exact same thing. He's coming back from a wedding in PA tomorrow, so we'll check the reverse backup switch then. Thanks for the help, even though this wasn't my thread.

 

If that doesn't work is there a way to just disable the reverse light circuit?