I know there is a short somewhere but how do I start troubleshooting this?

If I pull fuse #12 which controls the lighter, clock and interior light, the front corner bulb goes out.

I disconnected the console harness for the lighter and removed the bulb from the interior headliner casing but did not disconnect the clock.

I traced the positive lead on the front corner bulb socket to fuse #12 but I only get continuity if I remove the fuse. With the fuse in place, there is not continuity.

When I remove the fuse and get continuity, I also see continuity on 2-3 other fuses.

I hope someone can analyze my tests and point me in the right direction. I'm willing to run other tests so just tell me what to do.

Thanks


Modified by 7rrivera7 at 6:45 PM 6/6/2006

 

Does the car start and run fine?

 

i have the same problem in my 89 si its my right front corner guess how i fixed it cause no one he volunteered any helpful info. i pulled the bulb

 

The car starts and runs find. It's just this one electrical issue which has me stumped and the bulb will drain my battery if I leave it in.

I know how to fine a voltage problem when the circuit has been powered on but in this case, the circuit DOES NOT have switched power yet there is 6 volts on the line

 

could we start with a year and make?

 

Sure...1989 Honda CRX Si thumbup:

 

Follow the wiring. It must be bypassing any relay or fuse or switch and just geting some juice directly.

 

ttt

 

please help me

 

please help me

 

CHECK FOR EXPOSED WIRES!!! LOUD NOISES!!!!


Anyways, you might have a direct draw from the batteryto the light. Which is probably from bad wiring.

 

sorry man cant help much without a wiring diagram

 

i still have the same problem i cant see anything wrong. the only other thing that i noticed wasnt right was my battery light doesnt come on when the key is just turned to the on position

 

Sounds like a "ground loop failure". Check out the wires that go between the hatch to the rear brake light / wiper to see if they are worn through. Basically the problem is that there is a short somewhere in the car and instead of needing a switch to turn on the bulb, power is flowing through the bulb by way of ground. It could be lit because the short now has the bulb in series and current is passing through it to another place on the chassis. Check all doors/ hatch to see if there are wires that are cracked/shorted between any wires that go through, also please elaborate if any changes, modifications have be made to the car recently, no matter how small that you can recall. Good hunting!

 

Found It!!!!!!

I followed the positive lead of the upper corner front signal light to the under dash fuse panel. I disconnected each harness on the fuse panel individually until the 6 volts flowing to the bulb was eliminated. At this point there where only 2 harnesses left - one with thick power and grounds which most likely powers the whole fuse panel, and another which contained the lead going to the bulb. This last harness plugs into a grey rectangular box, part number 38600-sh3-a111-m1, which seems to be the fuse panel controller circuitry. The phantom 6 volts was coming from this box at the pin which mates to the bulb lead so I knew it was the culprit. I opened up the box and cleaned the underside of the circuit board with no luck.

Since I had a spare fuse harness, I replaced the grey box and bingo - problem gone.

I really feel good about troubleshooting this problem and solving it. Although it took me over a week on and off, I would have paid through the nose if I had taken it to an electromechanic - and I wouldn't have learned all I did about the Civic's electrical system.

 

good stuff!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by viciousvisionslarry &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i still have the same problem i cant see anything wrong. the only other thing that i noticed wasnt right was my battery light doesnt come on when the key is just turned to the on position</TD></TR></TABLE>

neither does mine.. ?

i think this light only comes on below a certain voltage, if your battery is good it shouldnt come on right?

 

The check engine light should come on in the acc position and go off after the ECU boots up...

 

do u have pictures off the box thingy. your battery light should come on with the key to the on position once the ar is running and the alt is working thats when the battery light goes out