short in wiring

[funnyman82]

Hello all,

i had a previous thread regarding my outside temp gauge but i think that is just a side effect from something else. Basically what is happening is my inside dash lights (console and shifter lights) are staying on as well as my tail lights, as if my headlights were on. This happens even if my headlights are in the off position.

Can you help? someone mentioned getting the service manual which i have but i am not sure where to look for a specific problem like this.

your help would be appreciated. Thx!

[Chuck Tribolet]

You want to look in the electrical section of the FSM. There's a section on "Parking, License, and Tail Lamps". The first thing I'd do is check the tail lamp relay.

With the problem occurring (headlights off, parking, tail, and license lights on) measure the voltage across the coil (pins 1 and 2). If it's like 0V, it's likely the relay failed
closed. If the coil voltage is like 12V, something else is telling the lights to be on. I'd be thinking the headlight switch on the column.


Chuck

[funnyman82]

thank you for your help Chuck.
i took a look at the section that you were mentioning. One thing it didnt show was where the tail lamp relay is located.

would this relay make the center dash lights and the shifter lights stay on as well?

thx!

[Chuck Tribolet]

In the back of the electrical section of the FSM, is "Electrical Units Location" which will tell you where the tail lamp relay is. And yes, the tail lamp relay runs the dash lights and basically everything inside that lights up when you turn on the headlights. All those other lights are described in the Illumination section.


Chuck

[funnyman82]

thanks found the page you were talking about...looks like the relay is under the hood. I will check the voltage and get back to ya!

[funnyman82]

So I removed the relay and tested voltage between 1 and 2 and it came 0 or .75.. I noticed when I removed the relay, lights still didn't go off...
Is the probl that relay still? I put another relay from the cluster and it stll didn't work...
Ur help would be appreciated.. Thx!

[Chuck Tribolet]

OK, it's not the relay. I'd guess there's a abraded wire SOMEWHERE.

[funnyman82]

thx for your reply. i noticed that it was back to normal yesterday, it seems to be intermittent. is there another way to diagnose where teh damaged wire would be?
thank you.