strange electrical gremlin

[7duster4]

Over the summer the turn signals on my Duster all the sudden quit while I was driving. The fuse blew and there was a short hidden someplace. We installed a new turn signals switch and flasher and that didn't do it. After much searching we eventually took the aftermarket CD player out then they worked. Maybe a wire was pinched. So we put the radio back in and they worked fine. My back-up lights were also out because they are on the same circuit. They were working again as well. I took the car for a spin today. The turn signals worked fine until about 2-miles down the road. When I turned into the gas station nothing came on. I couldn't believe it. Im sure the fuse blew, I didn't even check I was so aggravated. Anyone have any ideas why this happened? Sure does get old using hand signals lol. Any info is appreciated. Thanks

 

[64ragtop]

Over the summer the turn signals on my Duster all the sudden quit while I was driving. The fuse blew and there was a short hidden someplace. We installed a new turn signals switch and flasher and that didn't do it. After much searching we eventually took the aftermarket CD player out then they worked. Maybe a wire was pinched. So we put the radio back in and they worked fine. My back-up lights were also out because they are on the same circuit. They were working again as well. I took the car for a spin today. The turn signals worked fine until about 2-miles down the road. When I turned into the gas station nothing came on. I couldn't believe it. Im sure the fuse blew, I didn't even check I was so aggravated. Anyone have any ideas why this happened? Sure does get old using hand signals lol. Any info is appreciated. Thanks

First, like anyone else out there is gonna recognize your hand signals ... or, even worse, figure them for some kind of gang signs!!!

But as for your electrical problems ... I think the clue is that taking out the CD player solved the problem. Seems like you have an intermittent short somewhere in there. That is something shorts either to ground or another wire when they move around. You'll need to go through the underdash wiring harness and find and fix the damaged insulation or whatever. The radio wiring should be secured to the rest of the wiring harness so it doesn't move around.

Another possibility is that the CD player (and amplifier???) are connected to the same circuit. You didn't say if the CD went out when the signals did, but it would if that were the case. The fuse panel is not the best place to tap in for an aftermarket radio and/or amplifier, because they often draw more current than the circuit was designed for. It may work until you REALLY CRANK IT UP when the amp draws enough power to overload the circuit. It's really best to run a separate power wire from a high current capable part of the wiring, AHEAD of the fuse box. And if you have a really high power amp, you'll want to power it directly off the battery (with a fuse, of course).

I have seen some aftermarket radios that come with a little clip that goes on one end of a fuse where it goes into the clip in the fuse box. These can be OK if the radio doesn't draw a LOT of current. Best to be sure to attach such a gadget to the upstream or hot side of the fuse and use a separate inline fuse. I hope that helps!

BC

 

[7duster4]

Thanks for your info. My dad found the problem and turned out to be a wire that was touching the exhaust manifold. It was right beneath it on the drivers side. Thats what it has probably been this whole time. What a relief it's finally fixed. Thanks again for your info.