LED Electrical wiring question

[Myrunr2010]

I don't remember them all, but it's the circuit that tells a number of systems the ignition is on and it's OK to run. Heat, windows, rear defog, seat belt warning, window washer, are some. Those all have primary circuit power, but without GAUGE they think the truck is off and they stay dead.

So as per the other post. I replaced the GUAGE fuse and it's all back and happy. I put it in reverse and it immediately blew the fuse again (because I wired them directly into my reverse lights, against your suggestion). They had been working fine since installation a few months ago. I guess I've got a short somewhere along the way?

 

[TheDurk]

So as per the other post. I replaced the GUAGE fuse and it's all back and happy. I put it in reverse and it immediately blew the fuse again (because I wired them directly into my reverse lights, against your suggestion). They had been working fine since installation a few months ago. I guess I've got a short somewhere along the way?

AHHH, or, the load is just too high for that circuit, but it was on the margin and it took a while for the fuse to succumb. OHM out the lights. If it's a zero resistance, fix the short and try again. If you show bulb resistance (no idea what that is on those lights), then use a relay triggered by the reverse light--what I wanted you to do in the first place.

Or do that anyway, so you don't freeze to death some cold night when it happens again.

 

[Myrunr2010]

AHHH, or, the load is just too high for that circuit, but it was on the margin and it took a while for the fuse to succumb. OHM out the lights. If it's a zero resistance, fix the short and try again. If you show bulb resistance (no idea what that is on those lights), then use a relay triggered by the reverse light--what I wanted you to do in the first place.

Or do that anyway, so you don't freeze to death some cold night when it happens again.

Given that i replaced the fuse and then it immediately blew when I put it in Reverse again would point towards a short right? (Electrical isn't my strong suit, so I'm still learning). A relay triggered by the reverse lights? I have a relay on the dash switch so I can turn the lights on/off as I please, I'm not sure how I would wire one between the reverse lights and aux lights. I wish I had a better understanding of electrical/electrical systems.

 

[Myrunr2010]

Ok, so I was able to pull the 4Runner apart today and start looking for my short. I found two wires that were nicked. I cut out the bad section and re-spliced them together. I still have the short. I looked at nearly every inch of the wiring and can't find any other issue.

Could there be something in the switch or relay causing this? I would think that they are both simple enough parts that they wouldn't cause a short, but maybe so?

Any suggestions durk?

 

[Myrunr2010]

So in talking through and looking at my wiring diagram for this, we determined that the switch can't be the issue. We also determined that I should be able to run a wire from downstream of my inline fuse to just after the relay. If the fuse still pops then my issue is with the wiring somewhere down stream of the relay, but if it doesn't pop, then I've got an issue between my connection point and the fuse. As long as I hook it up downstream of the fuse it should still be safe, I will just have no way to turn the lights off aside from disconnecting the wires, which isn't a big deal since this is just troubleshooting.