ScottF

I will try to be as thorough in my description as possible.

Yesterday I removed a shaved door kit "black box" from under the dash.







This is what was removed from the car. NOW, everytime I turn on the lights the gauge cluster fuse blows. I read on here about splicing the solid red colored wire to the black wire on the dimmer switch. Tried that and it still blows fuses. I checked the cluster itself and all connections are tight and hooked up.

The previous owner really left a rat's nest of wiring under the dash and cannot make heads or tails of where anything goes... I tried a 10A fuse and it still blows.


Can ANYONE help me please.


Info on car:

B16B
P28 ECU
1996 Civic EX


I have searched the forums for gauge cluster illumination fuses blowing after removing a shaved door kit, but of course nothing comes up.

If anyone knows what to do or point me in the right direction that would be much appreciated...

Thanks in advance...

Dc4LsTeG

iTrader: (7)

Plug it back in?

ScottF

Thanks for your advice But I already tried that and still did it...

Dc4LsTeG

iTrader: (7)

So it was fine. You unplugged it the problem started, then you plugged it back in and there was still a problem? Is that the only thing you removed or touched while under there?

Id start looking at everything in that "rats nest" under your dash.

ScottF

That is the problem I have no idea where anything goes, there are so many wires that do not connect to anything, and wires that look like they are aftermarket, but have no purpose etc... I don't know why there would be a problem after removing that box...

ScottF

anyone???????

KINGVEM^^ED6

iTrader: (1)

Put a bigger fuse

ScottF

Tried that yesterday, tried a 10A and 15A and they both blew

apexi_rsx

u might have a wire hooked up from the box that was cut off or not taped that is arching off the dash frame or something metal. how long does it take to blow? as soon as u turn the car on or u hit a bump or what?

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

If the wiring is indeed a rat's nest then start looking for a new under dash harness. There is no way anyone can troubleshoot hacked wiring when you can't quite tell what has been messed with. It's obvious you have a short somewhere. That's all we know at this point.

ScottF

Ok, a SLIGHT update, I hooked it back up, but do not think that it had anything to do with it, I had an issue with the switch I wired for the fog lights, the orange wire seemed to pop the fuse, took out the switch and trimmed the wire back( no fog lights for me for now). That did not work. I tried jumping the red wire to black wire on the dimmer switch( did not work) I have voltage to the red and black wire at the switch, and at the cluster. The PCB on the back of the cluster is good, the bulbs were replaced today...I cannot figure this out.


I know if I have voltage TO the cluster at the harness they should light up but they simply are not...

ZackPP1990

Electrical problems are always a pain. Good luck.

ScottF

When it was doing it, it would blow as soon as I turned on the lights

ScottF

Has anyone had this happen to them? If so, please step forward!!!!!

jbpnoman

No. This is never an acceptable alternative. Fuses exist to protect the wiring in front of it from overheating, which can do anything from melt the wire, to start a fire. Fuses are also matched not only to the electronics they're protecting, but also to the size of the wire they're protecting. Throwing a bigger fuse at it might work some of the time, but it's also stupid dangerous.

ScottF

I only went up to a 10A, but it still blew. I wanted to verify things but went back to 7.5A