Did I read somewhere E34's have a wiring short problem - something to do wiring fraying at the trunk lid hinge? Don't know if that has anything to do with this but, anyway, my fuse to the interior lights is blown. Replaced fuse and it was good for about a day and then it blew again. Everything else in the car works. No other electrical or other problems. How do you guys trouble-shoot this? Thanks for any advice!

Did I read somewhere E34's have a wiring short problem - something to do wiring fraying at the trunk lid hinge? Don't know if that has anything to do with this but, anyway, my fuse to the interior lights is blown. Replaced fuse and it was good for about a day and then it blew again. Everything else in the car works. No other electrical or other problems. How do you guys trouble-shoot this? Thanks for any advice!

You're all over this one. Int lights fuse controls the rear trunk lights, thus when this common short happens... boom no interior lights.

Tomorrow I can grab you a cellphone shot of where the short is if you'd like.

Did you recently change the trunk shocks? I here people complain about this shortly after doing so. It happened the same way for me.

You need to figure out what you're doing when the fuse blows, and figure out what else is on that circuit. Start unplugging things on the circuit until the fuse doesn't pop any more. You can also get a circuit breaker that will plug in in place of a fuse, it will trip, then reset itself, over and over. If you use a breaker rated lower than the fuse that's supposed to be in there you won't risk burning anything up, and it's a great way to avoid going through a million fuses trying to figure it out. You should be able to get breakers like that at your local parts store that's not a big chain even some big chains might have it too though.


Good luck!

You're all over this one. Int lights fuse controls the rear trunk lights, thus when this common short happens... boom no interior lights.

Tomorrow I can grab you a cellphone shot of where the short is if you'd like.

Did you recently change the trunk shocks? I here people complain about this shortly after doing so. It happened the same way for me.

If you can grab that shot, I'd really appreciate it. I actually did change my rear shocks over a year or more ago, and haven't had interior lights for about that long. Thanks in advance!

...You can also get a circuit breaker that will plug in in place of a fuse, it will trip, then reset itself, over and over. If you use a breaker rated lower than the fuse that's supposed to be in there you won't risk burning anything up, and it's a great way to avoid going through a million fuses trying to figure it out. You should be able to get breakers like that at your local parts store that's not a big chain even some big chains might have it too though.


Good luck!Hmmm... Not trying to hi-jack, but I didn't know that a car breaker existed. Does it reset itself, or like a breaker on a home electrical panel, have to be switched back when tripped? So, if I have a 10-amp fuse get something smaller in terms of a breaker? I have a similar problem, but think I've traced it to the headlight. Thanks.

Hmmm... Not trying to hi-jack, but I didn't know that a car breaker existed. Does it reset itself, or like a breaker on a home electrical panel, have to be switched back when tripped? So, if I have a 10-amp fuse get something smaller in terms of a breaker? I have a similar problem, but think I've traced it to the headlight. Thanks.


An automotive breaker will reset itself. Has two male spade connectors like a fuse, but a stamped tin body. If you have a dead short, you plug it in and will hear pop... click... pop... click... over and over. Very handy thing to have.

An automotive breaker will reset itself. Has two male spade connectors like a fuse, but a stamped tin body. If you have a dead short, you plug it in and will hear pop... click... pop... click... over and over. Very handy thing to have.Got one at lunch. Man, I had no idea... This will help a lot. Also got a set of plugs and smoked Hella Euro Smilies arrive tomrrow! :redspot

I assume that continued use of one of these won't weaken/affect any of the wiring since the short would normally lead to a blown fuse...?
Of course I'm talking about until the short is located. Thanks.

David

Yeah, it's not something to be left in place permanently, but it's good for finding a dead short. Unplug everything on the circuit one at a time until it stops popping, then you'll be on the right track.