Jon,
It sounds like some of the connectors or grounds are not making good contact
and building up resistance. Clean all connectors and ground straps and bulb
sockets and then use dielectric grease to keep them from oxidizing/rust.
If it was a bare wire it would blow the 20 amp fuse also.
Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: <jon_wissler@pngc.com>
To: <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 12:50 AM
Subject: Electrical Woes Continue
> I think I've been describing the Roadster as "my most reliable
> vehicle" a little too much for my own good. Many of you followed my
> ballast resistor escapade of a couple of weeks ago that turned out to be a
> blown fuse. Tonight I leave work late, get almost to the freeway entrance
> and she goes dead. Check the fuse box and the 10amp Flasher/Ignition fuse
> is blown. Same one that started me down the wrong path the last time.
> Replace the fuse and make it onto the freeway where it goes dead after
> about a 1/4 mile. Throw in another one and it fries after about 30
> seconds. Pop the head and look for loose or frayed wires and see nothing.
> Pop in a 15 amp fuse just for giggles and we cook that one in about 5
> seconds. Crawled under the dash looking for anything suspicious but can't
> find anything out of the ordinary. There are a couple of wires that
> terminate into nothing, but they don't seem to be exposing any metal.
> Basically jiggled stuff around for a few minutes and then sat there
> contemplating my navel as it begin to get dark and I felt the semi's
> shaking to death speeding by. Decided what the hell, I need to get home
so
> I threw in a 20 amp fuse (I'm sure that is a major no-no), watched it for
> 30 seconds to make sure it didn't torch, and took off hoping to get home
> before I cooked the entire electrical system. Made it home and replaced
> the 20 amp with the proper 10 amp and now of course everything seems to be
> fine.
> So what the hell do I do now besides stock up heavily on 10amp fuses.
> I may have to buy stock in Buss. If you recall, this is the same fuse
that
> when blown allows me to turn the engine over and it catches fire, but then
> dies as soon as you let off on the key. My neighbor tried to tell me how
> to trace the circuit to find a short, but it sounded ugly and extremely
> time consuming and fraught with not finding anything. Anybody find this
to
> be a common problem that usually has a similar root cause? Since this is
> the flasher circuit, should I pull the side markers (mines a 69) and take
a
> look at the connections? Should I just say screw it and have the AAA card
> ready and waiting at all times? All of my under dash wiring looks pretty
> clean and undisturbed, so I really don't even know where to start.
> Electrical is definitely not my speciality, though I'm beginning to wonder
> if I have one. I am good at washing, waxing, and having fun driving, so
> maybe I should leave the rest to professionals. I really would like to
> learn how to take care of stuff like this however, for it's not like the
> engine is out to lunch and needs to be rebuilt. Any and all advice gladly
> accepted.
>
> P.S. I also have the 66amp GM one wire alt hooked up with the hot wire
> ONLY connected. Unplugged the voltage regulator, and left the second plug
> harness that used to attach to the stock alternator dangling. They aren't
> touching metal anywhere, but I haven't taped them over or anything either.
> I know the fuseable link suggestions will come up, but I can't imagine
that
> has anything to do with my current predicament. Correct me if I'm wrong.
>
> Next project - finish off the Pacifico supply and call it a day.
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