dome light short
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
dome light short
where do I begin in tracking down the short circuit in my dome light. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Sometimes if I just tap the light it will work, sometimes a map light will work, but not the main light. Should I just replace the entire fixture? tighten wires? I don't believe the problem is in the headlight switch, but if you know something that I don't, I'm listening. Thanks.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 1
From: Lee's Summit MO
dome light short
>where do I begin in tracking down
>the short circuit in my dome
>light. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.
>Sometimes if I just tap the
>light it will work, sometimes a
>map light will work, but not
>the main light. Should I just
>replace the entire fixture? tighten wires?
>I don't believe the problem is
>in the headlight switch, but if
>you know something that I don't,
>I'm listening. Thanks.
Family: I would look for a broken fuse, bad light, dirty connector, and the switches inside the door jams. Sometimes they stick!
>the short circuit in my dome
>light. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.
>Sometimes if I just tap the
>light it will work, sometimes a
>map light will work, but not
>the main light. Should I just
>replace the entire fixture? tighten wires?
>I don't believe the problem is
>in the headlight switch, but if
>you know something that I don't,
>I'm listening. Thanks.
Family: I would look for a broken fuse, bad light, dirty connector, and the switches inside the door jams. Sometimes they stick!
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 931
Likes: 0
From: Stanton, Suffolk England
dome light short
Try loosening and retightening the screws that hold it to the cieling. The dome light gets it's power and ground through them and they sometimes get crud built up in them.
Brad Godkin
1986 F350 CC/SRW
6.9liter/C6
Brad Godkin
1986 F350 CC/SRW
6.9liter/C6
New User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
dome light short
If you can tap the light fixture and make it work, you've already got it narrowed down. If it affects both the map and dome lights, it's probably a loose ground connection. I would remove the fixture and clean the mounting points.
O
O
Senior User
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 343
Likes: 0
dome light short
Your question is misleading unless you know these two definitions:
Short Circuit: When electrical current bypasses the load usually causing a fuse to blow.
Open Circuit: When a high resistance is present between the voltage source (or return) and the load that does not allow the load to operate as intended.
You never said you blew a fuse so I assume you have an intermittent open circuit. Trace the circuit path and remove the resistance, it is most likely the return (ground) path.
Randy
Sorry that sounds so blunt, but being an Electrical Engineer and hearing misused terms just drives me batty.
Short Circuit: When electrical current bypasses the load usually causing a fuse to blow.
Open Circuit: When a high resistance is present between the voltage source (or return) and the load that does not allow the load to operate as intended.
You never said you blew a fuse so I assume you have an intermittent open circuit. Trace the circuit path and remove the resistance, it is most likely the return (ground) path.
Randy
Sorry that sounds so blunt, but being an Electrical Engineer and hearing misused terms just drives me batty.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
work.truck
Electrical Systems/Wiring
3
Dec 21, 2014 11:00 AM
Ordnance
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
10
Aug 18, 2014 10:59 PM
Shake-N-Bake
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
6
Oct 25, 2011 07:42 PM
01Foreman400
1983 - 2012 Ranger & B-Series
5
Jan 13, 2010 10:36 PM
