Keithr726

So I wired up my second taillight and installed them to find thw drivers side taillights won't light. Side lights front and rear drivers side don't work either. Turn signals do work and my clear lenses with orange bulbs look cool along with led plate lights. Now I just need to figure out the tail and running lights on the drivers side. I know the hatch heater runs off of the drivers side taillight but what else does that could cause a short?

I wanted to get the rear end finished tonight because I have to work tomorrow morning.

Rock

Joo stoopid head.

You blew a fuse on the drivers side, look under the fuse panel for "parking lights left"

The rear window defroster runs off of fuse 13 on a 1986, which is also the fuse for the little "TEST" fuse relay.

drift a 944

Im going to subscribe this thread hoping for a legit answer because my car is having problems too. I never messed with the wireing or anything, but the drivers side running lights and rear tail light are out. It's obviously the fuse on mine, but when I replace that fuse, it blows instantly when i turn the switch on. So I'm not really sure where to start for diagnosing the problem. Keithr726 hopefully yours is just the fuse!!

Rock

Pull out the side marker lenses and make sure the little metal tabs and wiring are right, and not connecting. This will cook the fuse for ya

V2Rocket

rock knows a thing or ten about cooking various parts of his cars

drift a 944

Thank you. I'll give this a shot first. If it doesn't work out, are there any other troublesome places that could cause the same blown fuse? This is on an 86 Turbo, if it makes any difference...

Rock

Just check the front turn signal then, and make sure the tail light bulb is installed properly.

Keithr726

No fuse problems for me. Since the rear ice defroster is on the same fuse and the mirror heating wires are connected to the defroster, I'm guessing I installed one of the wires in my aero mirrors wrong.

Going to check this soon, any other ideas?

drift a 944

Are you sure the defroster is on the same fuse? Mine is also an 86 951 and the fuse panel I think just lists the fuse as "left driving lamp" or something along those lines. Mine is one of the last couple fuses on the list, like number 42 or 43 or something.

BTW - I checked my front turn signal bulb, even disconnected the ground wire leading to it. Fuse still pops. Rear bulb is also in in place and the contacts look good. I guess I could eliminate the ground on the rear as well, otherwise I'm not sure what's left to check..? Would the switch itself have any impact?

DarylJ

I'm not sure what that tells you (taking grounds off). If you have a typical short in one of these cars, it's because the insulation has worn or cracked off of the hot lead going to something. It doesn't matter if you takes grounds off, because.....well, it's a short. Meaning its hitting ground along the hot before it should. You need to isolate sections of wire and test them with an ohm meter.

drift a 944

well i figured the short would be somewhere around the housing where the blub goes, so what i did was disconnect the ground wire (basically cut it) leading to the housing. I cant imagine its getting shorted from a different ground source other than that wire? Or possibly its getting shorted long before it reaches the housing, but I'm not sure how to look without buying an ohm meter.

DarylJ

Either am I. Not in any sane way.

You can pick up a cheap one at an auto parts store for $10. It's a worthwhile investment.

drift a 944

Alright I'll probably pick one up this evening. Thanks Daryl!

Any tips on how they work? I'm honestly not very familiar with them.

Basically I need to isolate each wire and then test for power? Or how would I know where the short is coming from?

Keithr726

HAHA rock you are right it was a fuse. Now I must be a real idiot. The fuse didn't appear blown but sure enough I replaced it and now it works. Now only my brake light doesn't work.

DarylJ

I'm sure there are some good tutorials out there on how to do this, and I'll see what I can find for you. But basically you're using it to see what sections of wire are shorted without losing a fuse each time .

I'll post back when I dig through my bookmarks - I know I've found something for someone else on this.