QuestionHi! I noticed about a month ago that my radio, cd player, clock, and side-view external mirror controls on my 1999 Toyota Avalon (day time running lights version) were not working and have not worked since then. I opened up my fuse boxes and noticed that fuse 35 was blown, so I took another 15amp spare and replaced it. When I turned the car back on again, it immediately blew again. There seems to be a short, but do you have any idea what is causing this problem?
AnswerShort circuits are almost impossible for me to diagnose without being able to do tests on the car, the only thing I can offer is the following:
Try to eliminate the component that is causing the short by disconnecting them one at a time, for instance, disconnect one mirror then install the fuse and see if it blows, do this with the other mirror, the radio,the cig lighter, do the cig lighter first, it's the most likely cause, when the fuse stays intact you have found the problem or at least the circuit that the problem is in.
You will need a supply of eight to ten fuses for testing or a 10amp circuit breaker installed instead of a fuse, which I recommend, it will trip and continue to reset itself while you're disconnecting things.
