JustAnswer > Car
Ask A Question|Register|Login|Help
JustAnswer

Car

Ask a Car Question, Get an Answer ASAP!

Have your own Car question?

38 Auto Mechanics are Online Now
characters left:
Not a Car Question?

Related Car Topics:

  • Box
  • ,
  • Car
  • ,
  • Cut
  • ,
  • Dim
  • ,
  • Low
  • ,
  • Six
  • ,
  • Bulb
  • ,
  • Fuse
  • ,
  • Head
  • ,
  • Lamp
Bookmark and Share

Question

I have a 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer that is blowing right side tail light fuse.Front bulb works until fuse blows.I swapped whole assembly to left side ans all bulbs burned.All uther functions work.Can you help?

Submitted: 54 days and 19 hours ago.
Category: Car
Value: $14
Status: CLOSED
+
Read More

Optional Information

Year: 2002
Make: Mitsubishi
Model: Lancer
Engine: 1.8liter

Already Tried:
swapping assembly to left side.all bulbs worked.

Posted by NicksSticks 54 days and 19 hours ago.

Info Request

when the assemblies where swapped, did the fuse still blow?

54 days and 19 hours ago.

Reply

yes

Posted by NicksSticks 54 days and 19 hours ago.

Answer

Okay, so we need to isolate where your short circuit is coming from, most likely upstream from the fuse box, to the light, and most likely a short to ground. What I would like you to do is with a new fuse in place, and your tail lights on, go to the trunk of the car where the wiring harness comes out of the tail light lens, and move it around, every six inches or so, if the fuse blows when you are pulling on a certain part, you most likely have a chaffed wire at this point, causing the short to ground. Also inspect where the wires go into body panels for cut or chaffed harness. I know this seems involved, but is the easiest way to find you "hard to diagnos short to ground".

Let me know if or what you find.

 

thanks

Nick.

54 days and 19 hours ago.

Reply

I have checked for chaffed wires.The fuse blows as soon as lights are turned,so i dont have time to check that way.I am a certified electronics tech and am familiar with troubleshooting shorts and opens.cant seem to find one here.my meter shows no short to ground

Accepted Answer

Okay, a good way to find a short is in place of the fuse, retrieve an old style high beam, (low resistance bulb) like out of a 1970 chevelle or equivilent. created wires that go from one terminal of the bulb to the place where the fuse blows, and the other terminal to the other socket of the fuse (install in series), install the tail light bulb, and note the brightness of the lamp with the taillights off, then turn them on, the bulb will most likely get brighter due to a short, and your tail light will be dim, but now on. Wiggle your head lamp switch, and shake all parts of the harness, when the short is found, the high beam will dim, or flash, do to the on/off of the short. This is a very useful test.

 

Picture
Expert: NicksSticks
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 9/28/2009

ASE Certified Technician

Ford Drivetrain and Chassis Master, ASE Master Technician

+
Read More

Related Car Questions

  • oil pressure repair
  • Clutch problems
  • Why do my rear tires keep going bald?
  • 1990 ford f-150
  • check gauge light
  • help me
  • 94 Bonne SSEi
  • malibu trouble



Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.
Question List | Become an Expert | Terms of Service | Security & Privacy | About Us
© 2003-2009 JustAnswer Corp.