lilyellowrex

Hey, I've been trying to figure out an issue with my brother's 88 crx. Here's the sit. When I press on the brake pedal with the car on, the brake lights don't work. When I turn on the headlights the #8 fuse blows under the dash (10,15,20) as soon as I turn the **** to the first position. Headlights still work, just doesn't make it's way to the brake lights in the back. Middle light works when I press on the brake but none of the outer lights turn on. I've also noticed that none of the dash lights turn on either. I've searched a few similar issues, but their cars were either totaled or the issue began to vary. I think it's a short but can't find any exposed wires from the tail harness and don't know where else to look other than the dash. If anyone has diagram for the taillights or any advice on how to isolate the issue, all is appreciated. thanks

lilyellowrex

disconnected all of the taillight pigtails and the instrument cluster and still blew a fuse. Does anybody know if the fusebox could be the issue? haven't touched anything since I did the climate control swap and put in a new stereo and all connections were twisted, soldered, and then individually wrapped in electrical tape. also ran down a bit of the harness leading under the carpet and did see any exposed wire. ****'s a PITA..

Ef4doorwagon

A wire is grounding out causing the fuse to blow. In the radio harness there's a few red wires, one is like a dimmer wire, if they touches metal ( like the area where the radio goes in) it would cause a short.

lilyellowrex

traced the red/grn and red/blk wires from the stereo and climate control back to the jumble of wires underneath the steering column and didn't see any breaks or burns. Do you know if a bad combo switch could cause the brakes not to work?

Ef4doorwagon

I doubt the combo switch would be affecting this. The first time I crashed, my hand punched the combo switch and broke it, and my brake lights still worked.

lilyellowrex

man this is killing me...headlights work when I turn the combo switch on but then it blows the #8 fuse so nothing in the back. No dash lights, tail lights, brake lights. traced the wires under the dash twice. Thought it may have been the new fuse box I gave him to put in but I took it apart and checked the map for the #8 fuse and everything looked clean on the connections and paths. Any more ideas as to what could be the problem? found a ground under the dash that was just hanging freely, don't know if it has anything to do with it?

lilyellowrex

any diagnostic test for the brake light?

lilyellowrex

took off the the combo switch and noticed the H terminal was fried, so I ordered a replacement and should get it in a few days. If that doesn't fix it, I'll have to run the wires again. Open to anymore suggestions if anyone has them.

lilyellowrex

changed the combo switch and the 8 fuse still blows every time I turn the switch to the first setting. I pulled everything out of the car including the dash and and walked all of the wires in the rear harness and didn't see any burns or breaks, so I ran them back to the brake switch and ecu. The only wiring I have left to check this time is the dash wiring, so I was wondering if a short in the dash could cause the brake lights not to work and tail-light fuse to blow. The center brake light still works. Also does anyone know how to test the interior fusebox? it was changed between the last time I saw the car and now and they can't tell me if the brake lights worked before switching it out and I can't get back the original box because the guy who changed it moved out of state. took it apart but didn't see any burns on the panel or touching panels, just oil, but I assume that's ok.

lilyellowrex

Decided to check the fuse box again and this time I opened the grey box that plugs in at the back and found that over half of the circuit board in it was fried and black. Does anyone know what that is called and what it does?