BIZARRE electrical issue ...

[sylvanlights]

Pardon the double-post, I have also posted this in the general Protege5 section, but felt that there may be a knowledgable electrical "expert" here that may be able to help out as well ... I realize it not 'electronic' but definitely electrical ...

Anyway, here you go! Thanks for reading this far ...

*** Begin Double-Post ***

Not sure where to start on this one ... vital stats might be good - 2002 Protege5.

I climbed into my car after a LONG day at work ... turn the key, engine starts ... but what is that? My high-beam indicator is on. But my lights aren't switched on . Something is odd here ...

Here is the synopsis: (NOTE: Canadian Protege5 = day-time running lights)

- park lights (work fine)
- DRL - Driver's low-beam not working, passenger low-beam is fine, BOTH high-beam bulbs are ON (but not according to the switch). High-beams are at 25% their normal intensity. Fog lights do not function at all.
- When high-beams are switched on the passenger side functions normally, driver's side, however, does NOT. When high-beams are turned on the driver's side actually turns OFF (low-beam still not functioning). This leaves no headlights on the driver's side ... only park-lights.

So I started digging in the fuse panels. All is well inside the interior panel. Under the hood, one of the fuses is shot (believe it was "L-Head") and I replaced it. This accomplished nothing ... odd. I go to sleep frustrated.

After work the next day, I dig under the hood again only to find that a DIFFERENT fuse is now blown (believe this was "L-Fog") replaced this, nothing changes. Check under the hood again, and the new fuse has blown again ... hmm ... but the first blown fuse (L-Head?) is still fine.

So, what is the connection here? How can my low-beams not function on the left side (bulb is good) and my high-beams cancel themselves when they are turned on? Why does the fog-light fuse keep burning? Why ... ?

There are too many systems being affected by a single fuse. There must be a ground issue or some kind of connection between systems ...

$2.50 in Candian Tire money for whoever solves this one first! (canada)

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Any input is appreciated. This one has me doing some serious head-scratching!

-=D

 

[boostisgood]

You have a short in your system. I dont have the lights diag handy, so I dont know the exact wiring. It would say the bulb is blown internally and your high side is touching the low side filament. Cahnge the bulb and see if that clears up.

 

[sylvanlights]

You have a short in your system. I dont have the lights diag handy, so I dont know the exact wiring. It would say the bulb is blown internally and your high side is touching the low side filament. Cahnge the bulb and see if that clears up.

Protege5 = 4 bulb system. There is no way for the high-side to touch the low-side. Driver's side low-beam bulb is good (it was checked in the passenger side).

-=D

 

[boostisgood]

Ahh forgive my ignorance I got a single bulb MSP Confusing then. Ill try to dig up some diags for ya.

 

[sylvanlights]

Ahh forgive my ignorance I got a single bulb MSP Confusing then. Ill try to dig up some diags for ya.

I'd appreciate it. I don't even know where to start testing for this ... Most of the wires disappear inside the fender! Hard to check ANYTHING inside there ...

-=D

 

[Bill#2]

Hello, I read your post about the electrical issues and wanted to chime in, so to speak.
As a former auto repair employee, I saw cars come in with similar symptoms, and wondered why the boss relished working on these cars. I'm no electrician, and the thought of having a "ghost in the machine" scared the s*** outta me!
He finally clued me in; like 90% of the time, the owners recently changed a burned out bulb somewhere, with the wrong one and shorted out the system.
Usually it's an 1156 stuffed in a hole where a 1157 goes. So the boss gets to pop the customer for an hour of labor to.......basically change a bulb.
Anyway if you changed one recently, go take a look.
Good luck
Bill

 

[sylvanlights]

Hello, I read your post about the electrical issues and wanted to chime in, so to speak.
As a former auto repair employee, I saw cars come in with similar symptoms, and wondered why the boss relished working on these cars. I'm no electrician, and the thought of having a "ghost in the machine" scared the s*** outta me!
He finally clued me in; like 90% of the time, the owners recently changed a burned out bulb somewhere, with the wrong one and shorted out the system.
Usually it's an 1156 stuffed in a hole where a 1157 goes. So the boss gets to pop the customer for an hour of labor to.......basically change a bulb.
Anyway if you changed one recently, go take a look.
Good luck
Bill

The passenger-side low beam was replaced just last week ... but I am absolutely positive that it is the correct bulb - and that side is working correctly. The driver's side seems to hold most (if not all) of the mysteries.

Hopefully this will make sense once I start diging around tomorrow night.

-=D