Cadillac Repair: fuse problem, jumper wires, fuse block

Question
Hello, I have a 94 eldorado. Im having a problem with one of the fuses from the box in my trunk. It's the fuse for the drivers side tail running light, D/S turn signal running light and the light in my dash board. It keeps shorting out, I havent been able to see how fast im going at night for about a year now. Ive gone threw at least 50 fuses! Its a 10 fuse. Its gotta be a split wire somewhere, any idea on the easiest way to fix it???

Answer
Hi Justin,

       The easiest way to fix your problem is drop the car off at your mechanic and have them make the repair.

       If you want to try and find the short and fix it you will need a wireing diagram to show what things/loads are on that circuit and where the connectors are located. A factory Cadillac shop manual is a must because the ones you get at the parts stores won't help with locations of componants or wire terminals. Otherwise you could subscribe to alldata.com for your car and then you will have all the info you need at your computor to print out and take to the car.

       What I would do is buy a 10amp circuit breaker and make jumper wires so it will plug in in place of the fuse. Unplug a connector half way in the circuit, turn the key on and see if the breaker trips. If it does turn the key off continue to unplug something and then turn the key on and see if the breaker trips. Once you discover what causes the breaker to trip then eithor replace it or if it is the speedometer head then it will need to be sent out for repair. Of course you could continue to use fuses to test for the short. There is a possability that a wire has rubbed through the insulation and is touching metal. If that is the case once everything has been unplugged see if there are anymore connectors that can be disconnected before the fuse block. Sometimes a short requires that the car be taken apart so the wireing harness can be traced to find where the problem is. If you know the aproximate location of the short like behind the dash and between the instrument panel and the fuse block it would be easier to cut the wire at the fuse block and the speedohead and and run a new wire to connect the fuse to the speedo.

      This type of repair isn't very easy and only the better electrical techs can find the short. Good luck in your hunt. Bill