Teddy,
As a matter of fact, I FINALLY installed my cigarette lighter just
this last winter, having never had one until I ordered one from Ralleye.
Maybe I should take a look at the base and make sure it's not touching
anything. I remember wondering when I hooked it up that it seemed like
there should be a ground wire going somewhere, but there was only one wire
to attach to the pole at the bottom. That and the fact that the map light
wire goes underneath the slide plate looked like a recipe for a short.
Good suggestion and worth following up on. I'll bring the butter and
syrup if it does the trick. Maybe I should try out the cigarette lighter?
The only reason I put it in was to provide for cell phone charging
capability, which I've used maybe once. Thanks.
Teddy Seidenfeld <teddy@stat.cmu.edu>
07/25/01 07:10 PM
To: jon_wissler@pngc.com
cc: "Paul" <9laser3@bright.net>
Subject: Re: Electrical Woes Continue
>Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 21:50:38 -0700
>From: jon_wissler@pngc.com
>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.
>
Dear Jon,
I've not kept up with what you've already tried. So, please forgive this,
possible duplication of what you've already considered.
A quick inspection of the wiring schematic (attached as a .jpg file) shows
that that the cigarette lighter/map light are on the same circuit as the
one you are having troubles with.
Since you don't have a complete short -- otherwise the 20 amp fuse would
have blown right away too -- I'm wondering if you've checked your
cigarette
lighter (base) for the problem!
That is, I'm leaning towards a very simple solution!
Paul (Kort -- of OROC fame) and I trade long-distance Roadster diagnoses
for problems posted to the list, like yours. Our standard wager is a
stack
of hotcakes. So that you might better calibrate the accuracy of my
advice,
Paul has one lifetime supply already due him and is working on a second,
no
doubt, to put into his will as a legacy for future Kort generations (and
Seidenfeld generations) to learn from!
Do let us know, please, when you resolve your electrical woes and, as I
expect, then Paul will tack on another one. However, if I'm right (or
even
close to right) I'll claim two stacks of hotcakes for this problem!
Best of luck,
Teddy
69 2000
Pittsburgh PA
OROC
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