Honda Repair: speedsensor, fuse block, altenator

Question
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Followup To
Question -
i have a 97 honda civic. speedometer is fluctuating badly. i replaced the speed sensor and the speedometer is still out of wack. also the lights are dimming on the counsel and the headlights as well.someone told me to check fuse #15 which is the speedsensor/altenator. did that and the fuse was blown. replaced the fuse and the problem went away for about a mile till the fuse blew again.the fuse continues to blow.
Answer -
Jeremy:
You probably have a short somewhere in your wiring. The wire for your speed sensor comes off the alternator and goes to a junction connection before it goes to the fuse block, I would find that junction connection first and go from there. If you don't have a wiring diagram, you should get one so you can trace your electrical system.
Good luck.
Bill
BILL, THANK YOU FOR GETTING BACK TO ME SO PROMPTLY. I WILL CHECK THE WIRES FOR A SHORT. IS THERE A SPECIAL WAY TO SEE IF YOU HAVE A SHORT. LIKE THE TOOL TO CHECK FUSES. SHOULD I LOOK FOR EXPOSED WIRES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I CAN TELL YOUL ONE THING, ALL THE PROBLEMS STARTED DEC 31 WHEN IT WAS RAINING REALLY BAD IN CALIFORNIA.I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT I HIT SOME BIG PUDDLES AND POTHOLES. AND AS SOON AS THAT HAPPENED, THE LIGHTS WENT OUT OF WACK AS WELL AS THE SPEED SENSOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME

Answer
Jeremy:
Electrical problems can be difficult to trace and they are time consuming. You will need a meter that can test resistance. You will put one lead at one end and the other lead at the other end to make sure the wire is not damaged. You can put one lead at one end and the other on the body to make sure there is NO resistance (your wire would be split open somewhere and rubbing on the body). As for the puddle you ran over, you might have got some water inside the junction connector. First I would check the wire where it connects to the alternator and also check the junction connector; those are the most likely suspects.
Good luck.
Bill