Intermittent electrical short: need help to isolate it.

Spliff · Oct 4th, 2003, 07:47 PM

Today, for the third time in a month, my signal lights stopped functioning, along with the fuel gauge and temperature gauge. All other lights and gauges were unaffected.

The signal lights were non-functional for about ten minutes and then suddenly started working again. When they did, there was a smell of burning in the car.

To me, it seems as if the short is between the steering column and the cluster on the left hand side.

How do I go about isolating the short, if that's what it is? Do I need to expose the cluster and steering column, remove all the electrical tape around the wire bundles, and examine each wire individually or is there an easier way?

Myetball · Oct 4th, 2003, 08:07 PM

After checking a schematic, it looks like the one thing the turn, fuel, and temp all have in common is the instrument cluster voltage regulator. The voltage regulator does not tie in to any other warning lights so it's a safe bet it's time for a new one.

Spliff · Oct 4th, 2003, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Myetball
After checking a schematic, it looks like the one thing the turn, fuel, and temp all have in common is the instrument cluster voltage regulator. The voltage regulator does not tie in to any other warning lights so it's a safe bet it's time for a new one.

Thanks, I'll look into that.