Locating shorts

[jackjohn13 10+ year member]

Headunit wont work nor will the cigarette lighter outlet. I know they are driven by the same circuit so there HAS to be a short. Now im just wondering if i need to remove all of my dash trim to get a good look at the wiring. Or is there another way to find out? Also the fuse wasnt popped that belongs to the cigarette lighter outlet/radio. EVERYTIHNG else in the car works though? Most of you know alot more than i do... So any feedback is good. Thanks

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[weffy 10+ year member]

You probably checked the wrong fuse, I'd check and make sure they're all not blown. Otherwise, go at it with a test light. Its the only way.

 

[Audio4ever 10+ year member]

could be a fuse under the hood

 

[jackjohn13 10+ year member]

Thanks guys... But i checked all the fuses inside and they were all good. I checked visually and with the tester light. And for the under the hood thing, my VW doesnt have a fuse box in the engine bay. It has a little dinky fuse holder that has 1 fuse, that was also in working order. Its absolutely mind blowing. I cant think of anything else that it could be. If its a short the fuse should be popped if its not a short what could it be?

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

It has fuses under the hood. More than likely you pulled the wrong fuse. Next thing is to take a test light to your wiring to the hu and also to the cigarette lighter

 

[jackjohn13 10+ year member]

Do you know where the fuses are under the hood? I looked everywhere i have heard of little 7.5 fuses under the hood that cause alot of radio issues, i just didnt see any fuse box. Im certain i checked the right fuse all of the diagrams i saw said that that fuse was the one. How can i test the harness itself for power? without cutting the blocks of the end.

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

Get a test light to check for shorts. Its probably tucked away somewhere under the hood. Should be near your battery.

 

[jackjohn13 10+ year member]

I just got the car and the knuckle head before me did an awful job wiring when i pulled the wiring harness out the wires touched. i heard a crackle, by test light do you mean the little srewdriver looking thing with the ground on the other side? and how are those solo x's?

 

[CHEMMINS 10+ year member]

Check to see if you have power at the fusebox first.....

 

[jackjohn13 10+ year member]

well the fuses lit up with the test light so doesnt that mean i have power at the fuse box?

 

[CHEMMINS 10+ year member]

Yup...so it is between the fuse box and the stereo.....keep probing along till ya lose power.

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

I just got the car and the knuckle head before me did an awful job wiring when i pulled the wiring harness out the wires touched. i heard a crackle, by test light do you mean the little srewdriver looking thing with the ground on the other side? and how are those solo x's?

Yes that's a test light. And yes you have power. Should probably start by making sure all those connections aren't touching behind the dash. And I love my solo x. Got it in my civic hatch.

 

[jackjohn13 10+ year member]

can i do that with the little tester light? ive never head to trouble shoot a short haha im knew to this. and im gonna have to figure out how to tear my dash apart the whole top of the fuse box is tucked way up under the dash so i cant get to it. i should be testing the power wire right? or should i check all of them. all 4,000 of them.

 

[jackjohn13 10+ year member]

Yeah idk my buddy had a multimeter im gonna give that a shot. i have 2 12"cvx that i had in my grand prix for a week before the tranny blew. i finally got a new car and this happend.

 

[sacsking916 5,000+ posts]

You should be testing all the wires to the hu and the cigarette lighter.