re: 85 spider #4 fuse blown

["Giller,Bruce C." <bgiller@domain.elided>]

Jim,
	This happened to me in my '86 Spider and when I put in a too large fuse
(ran out of the correct ones), I found the short quick enough because of
all the smoke that billowed out of my trunk.

	One place to look is where the wiring bundles go thru the sheet metal
openings.  This where the edges of the sheet metal wear thru the
insulation and causes a short.  In your trunk, the wiring bundle from
the front gets to the back along the drivers side.  Remove the trunk mat
and the side carpeting so that you can really see things in there. 
Right near the fuel tank filler, towards the back, you'll see the
cabling coming out to run to the lights.  Twist, turn, and bend the
cabling so that you can see all the sides with a strong light looking
for break in the insulation.

	Just don't put in a larger amp fuse!

	Bruce

	- I had to splice in a used set of wires which was a pain because of
the sever melting that went on.

	'73 GTV - ready for VIR this weekend..and the weather looks great.  Now
to find me an Umbrella Grrrl!
	'86 Spider

> Today I found my brake lights and my license plate lights do not
> light. I checked the fuse box to find the #9 fuse (nominally for
> the license plate lights is OK) but the #4 fuse (nominally for
> the brake lights, door switches (not applicable), and some inside
> lights (footwell are the only inside lights I have) was blown.
> Any new fuse blows immediately, whether the ignition is on or
> not.
> 
> I know in principle how to look for a short (following the Braden
> book) but I've never actually done it. I have the appropriate
> voltmeter.
> 
> But is there a typical source of short for this #4 fuse that I
> should check first. And are there shortcuts to tracing these
> wires through upholstery. Do the 'short finder' kits that replace
> the fuse with a strobing device really work and what is the best
> source for them? Would such a kit work in this particular case of
> the #4 fuse.
> 
> Thanks for your insight,
> Jim 85 spider graduate with non-working factory ac
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