TAIL LIGHT FUSE KEEPS BLOWING - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Pikachu777 · 01-11-2023, 12:09 PM

Hello everyone ,

My taillight fuse keeps blowing and I’ve reached a roadblock . I know I have a short somewhere but I have no electrical experience and wanted to see if I could get some help before paying a mechanic… as it may be something I’m overlooking. I want to mention that I’ve disconnected the tail lights and it still blows . I’ve also took both fuses out for the headlights and it still blows . So check this out … when I unplug the actual headlight switch/lever the fuse does not blow . But as soon as I plug it back up it blows immediately. Also want to mention this all started after a bad storm .All advice is appreciated

NoHaveMSG · 01-11-2023, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikachu777

Also want to mention this all started after a bad storm .

Sounds like you got water where it shouldn't be. Do you know how to use a multimeter?

Pikachu777 · 01-11-2023, 04:36 PM

Unfortunately no , but I’m about to learn . Or at least find someone who does

x808drifter · 01-12-2023, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikachu777

Unfortunately no , but I’m about to learn . Or at least find someone who does

Like a mechanic...

Tokay444 · 01-12-2023, 02:42 PM

Find the short and fix it.

MJones_RB · 01-19-2023, 01:48 PM

Might be a grounding issue. Good luck!

Falkon240 · 01-19-2023, 02:26 PM

What aftermarket parts have you installed on the car? Suspension, interior, exterior, lighting, etc.

Chances are when you or the installer put a part in you pinched a wire and opened the wiring insulation grounding it to the chassis.

Go back over your parts and make sure nothing has been pinched or damaged.

The reason I say this is I installed a rear bumper on another one of my cars and pinched the license plate harness on the bumper support grounding it out. The circuit closure was so bad that the wires heated up and melted the insulation around the entire tail light harness.

My gas tank level sensor light turned on amongst other things because of this short circuit.

humfrz · 01-21-2023, 01:53 AM

Bubba says to replace the fuse with a large paperclip and stand back and look for the sparks, flame and smoke. There be your short.

(I THINK Babba was kidding)

RZNT4R · 01-21-2023, 06:43 AM

Have you tried disconnecting the trunk harness?

The 10 amp "TAIL" fuse also powers the license plate lights, not just the tail and side markers. A Bad storm? Maybe you've got license plate bulbs soaking in their juices, or maybe the storm is unrelated and wires are frayed in the hinge part of the harness, that happens often on many makes and models.

If the carpet isn't wet it's not terribly likely that the storm drenched something inside the car.

Ultramaroon · 01-21-2023, 06:05 PM

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/...ce-and-voltage

Tokay444 · 01-23-2023, 09:32 AM

It's definitely the suspension.

WNDSRFR · 01-23-2023, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humfrz

Bubba says to replace the fuse with a large paperclip and stand back and look for the sparks, flame and smoke. There be your short.

(I THINK Babba was kidding)

I know you're kidding but it would definitely show you where the problems is. And if you hit it quickly enough it might not do that much damage.

Ultramaroon · 01-23-2023, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WNDSRFR

I know you're kidding but it would definitely show you where the problems is. And if you hit it quickly enough it might not do that much damage.

It also might take out other expensive components. Recommend hard pass.

x808drifter · 01-24-2023, 07:39 AM

Think OP was electrocuted seeing as they haven posted since.

F

01-11-2023, 12:09 PM	#1
Pikachu777 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2023 Drives: 2015 Scion FRS TRD Edition Location: Atlanta Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	TAIL LIGHT FUSE KEEPS BLOWING Hello everyone , My taillight fuse keeps blowing and I’ve reached a roadblock . I know I have a short somewhere but I have no electrical experience and wanted to see if I could get some help before paying a mechanic… as it may be something I’m overlooking. I want to mention that I’ve disconnected the tail lights and it still blows . I’ve also took both fuses out for the headlights and it still blows . So check this out … when I unplug the actual headlight switch/lever the fuse does not blow . But as soon as I plug it back up it blows immediately. Also want to mention this all started after a bad storm .All advice is appreciated

01-19-2023, 02:26 PM	#7
Falkon240 Member Join Date: Oct 2022 Drives: 2013 FRS Location: Riverside County Posts: 84 Thanks: 37 Thanked 34 Times in 26 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	What aftermarket parts have you installed on the car? Suspension, interior, exterior, lighting, etc. Chances are when you or the installer put a part in you pinched a wire and opened the wiring insulation grounding it to the chassis. Go back over your parts and make sure nothing has been pinched or damaged. The reason I say this is I installed a rear bumper on another one of my cars and pinched the license plate harness on the bumper support grounding it out. The circuit closure was so bad that the wires heated up and melted the insulation around the entire tail light harness. My gas tank level sensor light turned on amongst other things because of this short circuit. __________________ IG 2013 Scion FR-S 2022 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Bison 1998 Nissan 240SX KA24DET

01-21-2023, 06:05 PM	#10
Ultramaroon 義理チョコ Join Date: Sep 2014 Drives: a 13 e8h frs Location: vantucky, wa Posts: 31,905 Thanks: 52,220 Thanked 36,561 Times in 18,948 Posts Mentioned: 1108 Post(s) Tagged: 9 Thread(s)	https://www.khanacademy.org/science/...ce-and-voltage __________________ service manuals

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01-11-2023, 04:36 PM	#3
Pikachu777 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2023 Drives: 2015 Scion FRS TRD Edition Location: Atlanta Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Unfortunately no , but I’m about to learn . Or at least find someone who does

01-12-2023, 02:42 PM	#5
Tokay444 Anti stance. Join Date: Feb 2016 Drives: 17 White 860. RCE Tarmac 2. RE-71RS Location: Not Canada Posts: 1,632 Thanks: 898 Thanked 961 Times in 549 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Find the short and fix it.

01-21-2023, 01:53 AM	#8
humfrz Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: 2013 FR-S, white, MT Location: Puyallup, WA Posts: 29,915 Thanks: 28,863 Thanked 31,908 Times in 16,461 Posts Mentioned: 709 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Bubba says to replace the fuse with a large paperclip and stand back and look for the sparks, flame and smoke. There be your short. (I THINK Babba was kidding)

01-21-2023, 06:43 AM	#9
RZNT4R Professional Mechanic Join Date: Apr 2010 Drives: 2017 86 6MT Oceanic Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 789 Thanks: 17 Thanked 633 Times in 371 Posts Mentioned: 12 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Have you tried disconnecting the trunk harness? The 10 amp "TAIL" fuse also powers the license plate lights, not just the tail and side markers. A Bad storm? Maybe you've got license plate bulbs soaking in their juices, or maybe the storm is unrelated and wires are frayed in the hinge part of the harness, that happens often on many makes and models. If the carpet isn't wet it's not terribly likely that the storm drenched something inside the car.

01-23-2023, 09:32 AM	#11
Tokay444 Anti stance. Join Date: Feb 2016 Drives: 17 White 860. RCE Tarmac 2. RE-71RS Location: Not Canada Posts: 1,632 Thanks: 898 Thanked 961 Times in 549 Posts Mentioned: 10 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	It's definitely the suspension.

01-24-2023, 07:39 AM	#14
x808drifter LMGTFY Join Date: Mar 2016 Drives: 13 FRS, 91 Miata Location: Lava Town, HI Posts: 2,776 Thanks: 5,561 Thanked 3,646 Times in 1,625 Posts Mentioned: 15 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Think OP was electrocuted seeing as they haven posted since. F

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