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Lars(wi) 
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Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Permian Basin
Points: 8232
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 Topic: I screwed up big time……………
Posted: 10 hours 40 minutes ago at 9:38pm |
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1991 F-350
Was messing around in the shop today, thought I would look at the Craftsman battery charger my Son has, that will not work right on his BMW. So I figured I would hook it to the batteries on the 350 and investigate. Turn on the headlights, to give the charger something to do, after maybe 3 or 4 minutes I noticed the clearance lights on the truck went dark. Headlights stayed on.
Opened the fuse box, fuse In position #4 blown, replaced fuse(15 amp) pulled light switch out, pop goes the fuse. All other lights work, brake, signal, hazard.
Clearance lights, and dash lights(they are tied together) will blow the fuse.
Any idea on where to start before prodding around on 30yr old wire harness?
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I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science.
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TedN
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Joined: 30 Apr 2025
Location: Central WA
Points: 113
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Posted: 8 hours 21 minutes ago at 11:57pm |
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I think I would get an auto reset circuit breaker to put in place of the fuse (only for testing, you will want to go back to a fuse once it is fixed) and turn the lights on. Then observe to see if there are any lights that don't come on for the brief moment the circuit breaker comes back on. If it is in the dash lights turning them all the way down should cause the breaker to stay on a little longer. The other potential trouble spot can be a trailer plug if it has one, last thing you think of because it doesn't light up. Hope this helps get you looking in the right direction.
Edit: I should also point out that using an auto reset circuit breaker will heat the wires going to where the short circuit is, and leaving it on too long may lead to a fire.
Ted
Edited by TedN - 8 hours 11 minutes ago at 12:07am
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190XTD seriesIII, 190XTD seriesI, maroon belly 7000, 190XTD series??? project(or maybe parts)
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jaybmiller
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Greensville,Ont
Points: 24838
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Posted: 1 hour 46 minutes ago at 6:32am |
Ted's on the right track but...
1st, get the wiring diagram ! Whatever time it takes is well worth it ! Without it you'll spend days trying to track down the cause.
2nd, a 15 amp fuse for a few lights ? I suspect there's more on that circuit. Remove the clearance light bulbs, disconnect the dash lights, replace fuse ,see what happens.
Curious, did the truck start and run fine BEFORE you connected the charger that won't work on a BMW ? I'd have bench tested the 'questionable' charger with a spare battery not just tossed into my ride. It may have destroyed something using fuse #4. Now Craftsman didn't make the charger, but you can probably find it's wiring diagram online. Whatever you do, do NOT connect it to the wife's pride and joy car !!!
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3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112
Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor)
Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water
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Lars(wi)
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Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Permian Basin
Points: 8232
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Posted: 31 minutes ago at 7:47am |
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The truck batteries were not ‘low’ or in ‘need’ of charging. Unfortunately I don’t keep automotive batteries sitting around, that are not in a vehicle. This was one of those ‘try this and see what happens’ moments.
My Wife has scolded me over the years, for times like this. Her famous quote; “If you were a blond female, you would be on your back, with 15 kids running around”.
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I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science.
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Lars(wi)
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Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Permian Basin
Points: 8232
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Posted: 24 minutes ago at 7:54am |
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The 15 amp fuse is what the chart calls for. The exterior lamps, and instrument panel.
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I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science.
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DMiller
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Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Hermann, Mo
Points: 34720
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Posted: 16 minutes ago at 8:02am |
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No need to Poke the harness simply roll under truck and inspect visually the harness to be along frame. As rust or decay takes over things move. Age is not our friend where much as a pinched nerve harness can get pinched or crushed.
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steve(ill)
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
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Posted: 8 minutes ago at 8:10am |
you have it narrowed down to one fuse.. that fuse powers the 4 running lights and the dash... Something is GROUNDING a hot wire on that system.. You could remove the running light bulbs and check the plug wire at the socket for damage.. but normally bulbs do not fail and short out to ground..... More likely it is the wire at the fuse box terminal.. maybe on the bottom that you can not see..
Examine the wire running to each running light as much as possible... but im betting on damage wire / short at the fuse box.
I have a hard time understanding how a battery charger could cause this.. It basically does the same thing the alternator does, which is BOOST the battery.
Edited by steve(ill) - 5 minutes ago at 8:13am
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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