short in steering column
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short in steering column
I don't post on here much so I hope this in the right place. I have a 2.9L 5-speed, 4x4, '87 Ranger. I have been having issues with my headlights flickering and traced the problem to the top pigtail connecter on the turn signal/high beam module. I had the module in and out and apart a few times along with taking the top and bottom connecters off.
I tried putting dielectric grease in to see if it would help but got nothing, so I ended up replacing the connector. Somewhere along the line I caused a short or something because before I changed the connecter my battery was dead. I charged it and noticed my dome light wasn't shutting off. I removed it, charged it again and let it sit, and now its dead again. I didnt change anything other than that connecter, but Im assuming I jarred or shorted something while messing around. Any one have any ideas of what it might be? I haven't had the time to put a test light on any wires yet.
I tried putting dielectric grease in to see if it would help but got nothing, so I ended up replacing the connector. Somewhere along the line I caused a short or something because before I changed the connecter my battery was dead. I charged it and noticed my dome light wasn't shutting off. I removed it, charged it again and let it sit, and now its dead again. I didnt change anything other than that connecter, but Im assuming I jarred or shorted something while messing around. Any one have any ideas of what it might be? I haven't had the time to put a test light on any wires yet.
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The dome light/headlight switch was changed a few months ago, I originally thought that might have been the problem so I changed it. The door jam switches seem fine. When the battery is charged I can push them in and it will stop dinging. Before I touched anything, everything worked fine.
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Thanks for all the quick replies. I tried reading the battery thread but the links are dead.
Its getting cold out now and my battery is about 6 years old, any chance its just a coincidence and the battery is shot? I put a new bolt in the ground clamp on the battery terminal and it was already starting to corrode after 24 hours. and both terminals were nasty before I cleaned them. I'm going to take it to a battery exchange tomorrow and see how it tests. I also checked the dome light again and now it works like its supposed to.
Its getting cold out now and my battery is about 6 years old, any chance its just a coincidence and the battery is shot? I put a new bolt in the ground clamp on the battery terminal and it was already starting to corrode after 24 hours. and both terminals were nasty before I cleaned them. I'm going to take it to a battery exchange tomorrow and see how it tests. I also checked the dome light again and now it works like its supposed to.
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Thanks for all the quick replies. I tried reading the battery thread but the links are dead.
Its getting cold out now and my battery is about 6 years old, any chance its just a coincidence and the battery is shot? I put a new bolt in the ground clamp on the battery terminal and it was already starting to corrode after 24 hours. and both terminals were nasty before I cleaned them. I'm going to take it to a battery exchange tomorrow and see how it tests. I also checked the dome light again and now it works like its supposed to.
Its getting cold out now and my battery is about 6 years old, any chance its just a coincidence and the battery is shot? I put a new bolt in the ground clamp on the battery terminal and it was already starting to corrode after 24 hours. and both terminals were nasty before I cleaned them. I'm going to take it to a battery exchange tomorrow and see how it tests. I also checked the dome light again and now it works like its supposed to.
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Southern Oregon Coast
I don't know if the battery is causing the issue with the dome light but, after 6 years and, in the condition you just described it, I would replace it...
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Well I had the battery tested today and its still good, but the guy checked for a short, and found that something is drawing 5amps. It started this before I changed the connector. Everything seems to work properly tho, my headlights work great, dome light and door jam switches seem to be fine, Im terrible with electronics.
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From: CASA GRANDE AZ
do you have a glove box light ? if so it might be staying on ! also the radio , with its memory and time will draw a small amount of power !
start by pulling one fuse at a time till the battery shows no current draw , then you have found the were to look !
start by pulling one fuse at a time till the battery shows no current draw , then you have found the were to look !
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Had a little more time to mess with it this afternoon. I haven't turned the radio on or used the wipers until today since this all started. My wipers now have a mind of there own and the radio loses power sporadically. I unplugged both connecters to the H/L/blinker switch and the connector to the wipers and when I turn the key on, the wipers still just go on there own. Any ideas? I cant see anything unusual looking at all the wire harnesses, but they are pretty confusing
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