Ok, on a 68 f100 360cid, i had my instrument panel off cus i was painting. then i unplugged my cigartte lighter just for the hell of it. but when i went to plug it back in, it blew a fuse, i know how to replace the fuse but what i was wondering is should it do this?? and also when i took the instrument panel off, i had to unplug the speedometer cable and some wiring... will it be ok to plug that back in? Or will that blow a fuse also.... should i just unplug the battery just in case thanks.

 

Rule of Thumb #1
Always disconnect the battery BEFORE doing any electrical work Especially when working behind/up/under the dash.



Dennis






78 F-150 429CJ C6 ,Silver w/Explorer Pkge
641/2 Mustang,Pre-World's Fair Car #8092
64 Fairlane S/C waiting for a 390-4spd.
68-Mustang.Sunlit Gold 80,000 miles

 

If I understand you correctly, the fuse did NOT blow until you tried to connect the wire to the cigar lighter. If that is the case, there are two (in my opinion) possibilities. 1) You may have missed the connector stud on the back of the lighter assembly and shorted the wire to ground, blowing the fuse (highly unlikely). 2) The cigar lighter shorted when you were pulling on the wire to get it off in the first place.
If it is one of the original lighters assemblies for that year truck, it may well have a paper (cardboard) insulator between the connector stud and the housing (which is the ground return for the lighter). These insulators are prone to deteriorate over the years and eventually come apart (usually when disconnecting the wire).
If you have a volt/ohm meter, check between the connector stud and the lighter housing for a short (or just replace the lighter and plug in the fuse).
As for the speedo cable and the wiring harness to the instrument panel, it should be safe to reconnect them.
As the gentleman before me said, it is always a very good idea to disconnect the battery before doing any work with the electrical system (saves expensive wiring harnesses and eliminates bruised egos).
It shouldn't take you long to fix the problem.
Eddie
"Keep smiling, it confuses the He** out of them"

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 11-Aug-02 AT 10:03 PM (EST)]I am trying to get my lighter to work in my 68. I connected the blue/white stripe wire to the connector and made sure I sanded the dash to baremetal where it goes into it. It still doesn't work. There is 12VDC on the blue/white wire and I know the lighter is good cause I bought it here from Ken. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Russell
1968 F250 LWB 300-6

FORD=First on Race Day
#88 Dale Jarrett
#21 Elliott Sadler
#97 Kurt Busch
#28 Ricky Rudd

 

Bump
Russell
1968 F250 LWB 300-6

FORD=First on Race Day
#88 Dale Jarrett
#21 Elliott Sadler
#97 Kurt Busch
#28 Ricky Rudd