. . ======= ======= Turn Signal fuse blows Group: alt.autos.4x4.chevy-trucks Date: Tue, Sep 14, 2004, 3:42am (CDT+5) From: snipped-for-privacy@aol.com (William)
I need help with my truck, 1994 k1500 z71. Every time I pull a trailer it blows the turn signal fuse. It has blown with different trailers. Blows even when I dont use my turn signals. Where should I start?
I've looked over all the wiring I could see underneath the back and everything looks good.
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Sounds like your power feed (current) for the trailer lights is using the turn signal circuit for a ground path. Which would mean to me that the turn signal circuit is the shortest path to ground for whatever reason. Being as you have the symptom only when a trailer is hooked up, and changing trailers hasn't stopped the problem, i would suggest you change the trailer harness connector first because the fuse is only blowing when current is flowing to the trailers, and changing trailers does not eliminate the symptom, which eliminates all circuits BEFORE and AFTER the trailer harness connector as being suspect.
so.....
if the circuit consists of....
trailer truck connecter
the math is saying it'sthe connector, or it's harness.
Likely you jest have a corosion problem makeing for a bad ground circuit, or the wires have been yanked one too many times causing a break inside the insulation of the connector itself, letting a wire or two short.
Later in the thread you asked for circuits that may be in parallel or series with the turn signals. Unless you're haveing symptoms that you didn't mention, that info isn't needed.
Use a test light at the pigtail and isolate the brake,turnsignal,running lights, and revearse light circuits by actuating them. Once you have them identified run continuity tests to ground on the circuits or run voltage drop tests from the circuits to ground. I think what yer gonna find is continuity between one of the other power circuits feeding the trailer lights, and the turnsignal circuit.
or.... do an aperage draw test.... back the truck up to a trailer, fabricate yer self some jumper leads to connect the two harness connectors togeather, hook up yer amp meter to the turnsignal fuse and unplug the wires one at a time till the amperage draw drops, thus isolating the circuit to a particuler wire, then trace the circuit from the trucks connector back through the harness till you locate the short. (i'm betting running lights)
or ..... jest run down and get a new pigtail at the AutoZonedOut store, stick it on, hook up the trailer and go fer a test drive.
v=ir
~:~ MarshMonster ~always remember and never forget, current flows from positive to negative~ ======= =======