Fuses popping

[jimjeeves]

Hi all, pleased to meet you.

I'm new to my terrano, have a bit of a problem in that the fuse for the tail lights/instrument panel/side lights keeps popping.

I'm damned if I can find a direct short, but smoke (wisps) will come from the wiring as it enters the light/indicator switch and the left hand tail light seems intermittent.

I'm popping bulbs all over the place.

I read somewhere that the light /turn signal switch is a popular candidate for shorts but I can't see how I get a direct short through that, surely it's live in, live out?

Help! I'm in Spain where I have to say I'd sooner let my four year old have a go at it than the "mechanics' at the farmers co-op.

Very grateful for any assistance guys.

 

[lacroupade]

Hi all, pleased to meet you.

I'm new to my terrano, have a bit of a problem in that the fuse for the tail lights/instrument panel/side lights keeps popping.

I'm damned if I can find a direct short, but smoke (wisps) will come from the wiring as it enters the light/indicator switch and the left hand tail light seems intermittent.

I'm popping bulbs all over the place.

I read somewhere that the light /turn signal switch is a popular candidate for shorts but I can't see how I get a direct short through that, surely it's live in, live out?

Help! I'm in Spain where I have to say I'd sooner let my four year old have a go at it than the "mechanics' at the farmers co-op.

Very grateful for any assistance guys.

From recent threads I think the indicator/light switch arm is a cheap and straightforward replacement (step forward whoever it was that did it??), so good place to start. Next, if it persists, would be to disconnect a few things and start putting them back until the smoke starts again!

Whereabouts in Spain are you Jim? Capt Limey is in France north of Toulouse and I have an old farmhouse just north of Lannemezan, so only about 25 miles the other side of the Pyrenees (not that I can afford to get there at the moment!!!:doh)...

 

[jimjeeves]

Thanks for replying Lacroupade. I changed the indicator arm for 15 euros from a scrapyard after persuading them that although they didn't have a terrano any nissan from around the same time might have the same part (mine came off a Micra).

This, in the desperate hinterland where we live, was nothing short of a minor miracle and seemed to cure the problem until I drove through a puddle, when the fuse popped again. Aha - the towbar wiring was a bit flaccid and untidy and when I actually knocked the mud off and had a proper look sure enough some insulation had worn through and the live feed to the towbar was sparking off the chassis.

Interestingly, in Spain there's no question of buying a towbar online and fitting it yourself, it has to be done by a registered installer, inspected, and your logbook amended to give you a specified max towing weight. At the ITV (MOT) they'll check the lights with a trailer board and cross check the towbar with your logbook. All very proper and bureacratic, but i think shrouding the wiring from regular soaking might be a good idea what d,ya reckon?

Thanks for your help anyhow.

 

[jimjeeves]

We're in Valderrobres, the Matarranya region of S. Aragon (teruel province) Truly, the middle of nowhere.

 

[jims-terrano]

If it helps I moved my towbar sockets in to the rear bumper. I drilled and fitted to the recess for the spare wheel to close against. Well out of the way of rocks and mud, I also give the inside of the socket a good layer of grease to keep the water out.

Jim T

 

[bigdaddy]

If it helps I moved my towbar sockets in to the rear bumper. I drilled and fitted to the recess for the spare wheel to close against. Well out of the way of rocks and mud, I also give the inside of the socket a good layer of grease to keep the water out.

Jim T

Hi! Can you post a picture with the socket installed on the bumper? Thank's!
Paul

 

[CaptLimey]

We're in Valderrobres, the Matarranya region of S. Aragon (teruel province) Truly, the middle of nowhere.

Hi JimJeeves

Welcome to the club and well done in getting a 'work around' for the wiring/smoking problem. Very interesting to hear how bureaucratic Spain appears to be with regard to vehicle tests, I thought France was bad enough!

As Lacroupade has mentioned we're 150k north of Toulouse and we're heading down your way to the warmer stuff this coming January.

I see that you're a bit south and west of Tarragona, can you recommend a spot on the coast road, en route to Valencia, that we might stop overnight with our T2 and caravan? If I read the Michelin map correctly your location looks to be quite high, (i.e. cool) is that right?

Regards CL

 

[jims-terrano]

Hi! Can you post a picture with the socket installed on the bumper? Thank's!
Paul

Forgotten how to post pictures so drop me a pm with your email address and I'll email a photo to you.

Jim T

 

[MudLifeCrisis]

There's a pic here

http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4176&highlight=socket

Going to move mine as I've trashed them again at the weekend.

Brian

 

[jims-terrano]

Cheers for that, mines on opposite side as there's more room for both on that side.

Jim T

 

[bigdaddy]

Guys,thanks for the info!

 

[jimjeeves]

Thanx for all your help one and all, Capt Limey, you asked about somewhere to stop en route to Valencia...hmm not too familiar with the coast, camping-wise. There is a fantastic place near us but we are high up,(500m) and the coldest province in Spain so January might be a bit challenging, best look on the net I guess.