Who's good with wiring? I think there's a short in my parking light circuit? - Subaru Enthusiasts Car Club of the Sierras

bigrobwoot · 2010-01-25, 12:48 PM

I have a question that may or may not be related to the angel eyes I have installed on my car. I've had them on my car for about a year and a half. I recently just blew the fuse for my parking lights. I noticed/smelled a short near the passenger side headlight after replacing the fuse, and neither the angel eye nor parking light were working on that side before the fuse popped again about 10-15 seconds later. I walked all the way around the car, checking all the lights, noticed the passenger side wasn't on, then everything went off when the fuse popped, just to give a timeframe.

I thought I fixed the problem by soldering all of the connections between the angel eye and parking light. Stupid I didn't in the first place, I know. I noticed that the connection on the inverter that I'm not using (it's the connection I'm not using, not the inverter. The inverter has 2 plugs for potentially 2 angel eyes, I'm only using 1) was showing signs of melting, so I cut it off and covered the ends of the wire so that they didn't short circuit. The fuse pops in about a second now, I just went through a 5 pack of fuses trying to figure it out. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading this.

Dean · 2010-01-25, 01:25 PM

Use a VOM and stop wasting fuses. Check wiring, especially where it passes through sheet metal and any junctions you made. Isolate sections by unplugging intermediate connectors, bulbs, etc. where possible.

bigrobwoot · 2010-01-25, 03:12 PM

I don't have one, that why I went with the "guess and check on the kragen parking lot" method haha. I emailed lightwerkz, where I got the angel eyes, and he said it sounds like a bad inverter, which is great news, cuz it should solve the problem, and it's free. I checked all of the connections I made, and made sure I soldered them all this weekend, but that didn't fix it. I was just really hoping I didn't have to tear my steering column apart or anything. If that doesn't fix it, I'll start checking everything tho. Thanks. Sometimes I just need someone to hold my hand, tell me it'll be ok, and then help me think logically

Dean · 2010-01-25, 04:16 PM

Go to Harbor Freight and spend $2.99 on a cheap VOM/multimeter. Troubleshooting without one is like getting sex on 4th street without a condom.

bigrobwoot · 2010-01-25, 05:19 PM

Done at my own risk? Life threatening? Only a good idea when you're drunk?

Jeikun · 2010-01-25, 06:30 PM

I have a multimeter that you can borrow if you want. I dont know if it's what you need though.

bigrobwoot · 2010-01-25, 09:56 PM

No, I'm pretty sure my roommate has one, thanks tho. I'm gonna wait on the inverter and replace that, and that should work. I don't wanna start fishing around in there unless I have to

bigrobwoot · 2010-01-31, 10:18 PM

It was the inverter that was causing the problem. Sorry I freaked out back there

2010-01-25, 12:48 PM	#1
bigrobwoot EJ251 Real Name: Rob Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Reno Posts: 679 Car: 2019 CBS WRX Premium Class: Middle Shoot for the moon, because even if you miss, you'll still be among the stars	Who's good with wiring? I think there's a short in my parking light circuit? I have a question that may or may not be related to the angel eyes I have installed on my car. I've had them on my car for about a year and a half. I recently just blew the fuse for my parking lights. I noticed/smelled a short near the passenger side headlight after replacing the fuse, and neither the angel eye nor parking light were working on that side before the fuse popped again about 10-15 seconds later. I walked all the way around the car, checking all the lights, noticed the passenger side wasn't on, then everything went off when the fuse popped, just to give a timeframe. I thought I fixed the problem by soldering all of the connections between the angel eye and parking light. Stupid I didn't in the first place, I know. I noticed that the connection on the inverter that I'm not using (it's the connection I'm not using, not the inverter. The inverter has 2 plugs for potentially 2 angel eyes, I'm only using 1) was showing signs of melting, so I cut it off and covered the ends of the wire so that they didn't short circuit. The fuse pops in about a second now, I just went through a 5 pack of fuses trying to figure it out. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading this. Last edited by bigrobwoot; 2010-01-25 at 12:50 PM.

2010-01-25, 01:25 PM	#2
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	Use a VOM and stop wasting fuses. Check wiring, especially where it passes through sheet metal and any junctions you made. Isolate sections by unplugging intermediate connectors, bulbs, etc. where possible. __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

2010-01-25, 04:16 PM	#4
Dean Señor Cheap Bastarde Real Name: Dean Join Date: May 2003 Location: $99 Tire Store Posts: 9,294 Car: $.04 STI Class: Fast,Cheap & Reliable=STI Deal, did somebody say Deal? Oh, Dean, yeah that's me.	Go to Harbor Freight and spend $2.99 on a cheap VOM/multimeter. Troubleshooting without one is like getting sex on 4th street without a condom. __________________ I am a Commodore PET --- Now get off my lawn you kids...

2010-01-25, 06:30 PM	#6
Jeikun EJ22 Real Name: Jake Niedle Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Damonte Ranch Posts: 427 Car: 2006 WRX Limited Class: little to none	I have a multimeter that you can borrow if you want. I dont know if it's what you need though. __________________ Cook bacon in your underwear. It adds danger to breakfast and makes you feel like you are welding. - Juice

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2010-01-25, 03:12 PM	#3
bigrobwoot EJ251 Real Name: Rob Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Reno Posts: 679 Car: 2019 CBS WRX Premium Class: Middle Shoot for the moon, because even if you miss, you'll still be among the stars	I don't have one, that why I went with the "guess and check on the kragen parking lot" method haha. I emailed lightwerkz, where I got the angel eyes, and he said it sounds like a bad inverter, which is great news, cuz it should solve the problem, and it's free. I checked all of the connections I made, and made sure I soldered them all this weekend, but that didn't fix it. I was just really hoping I didn't have to tear my steering column apart or anything. If that doesn't fix it, I'll start checking everything tho. Thanks. Sometimes I just need someone to hold my hand, tell me it'll be ok, and then help me think logically

2010-01-25, 05:19 PM	#5
bigrobwoot EJ251 Real Name: Rob Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Reno Posts: 679 Car: 2019 CBS WRX Premium Class: Middle Shoot for the moon, because even if you miss, you'll still be among the stars	Done at my own risk? Life threatening? Only a good idea when you're drunk?

2010-01-25, 09:56 PM	#7
bigrobwoot EJ251 Real Name: Rob Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Reno Posts: 679 Car: 2019 CBS WRX Premium Class: Middle Shoot for the moon, because even if you miss, you'll still be among the stars	No, I'm pretty sure my roommate has one, thanks tho. I'm gonna wait on the inverter and replace that, and that should work. I don't wanna start fishing around in there unless I have to

2010-01-31, 10:18 PM	#8
bigrobwoot EJ251 Real Name: Rob Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Reno Posts: 679 Car: 2019 CBS WRX Premium Class: Middle Shoot for the moon, because even if you miss, you'll still be among the stars	It was the inverter that was causing the problem. Sorry I freaked out back there