Electrical problem
1992 Other Mitsubishi Models 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 135000 miles
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Hi,
I was trying to diagnose why my license plate lamps would not work. In the process, I put a wire across 2 of the contacts on my head lamp relay located in the engine compartment fuse box.

In the process, I blew some type of fuse. Now, the headlamps and marker lights won't come on. Also, the dashboard instrument light that usually comes on when the headlight switch is turned on is out.

The high beams work temporarily if I pull the flash lever backwards. The signal lights work. Everything else is functional on the car except the external lights are all hosed.

Please give me a clue what I may have done. Thanks.

Hi waitkevich,

You have fused the main lighting fuse. Check the fusible link at the bayyery terminal, the 2 wire piece and see if one of it is broken.

Hi,
Thanks for the reply. I don't know what the bayyery terminal is. Battery terminal? Where can this fusible link be found? Are you saying that I have a fusible link outside of either one of my fuse boxes?

Hi waitkevich,

Sorry for the typo. yes is battery terminal.

From the battery positive terminal you would see a smaller link (with 1 into 2 wires), apart from the main starter cable. That is the fusible link.

I checked all the fuses in the engine fuse box, and all were fine. I bought a wiring diagram and Mitsubishi calls this engine fuse box the "PDC or power distribution center".

From the wiring diagrams it looks like the headlight circuit is double fused. That is, one fuse for the circuit from the switch to the headlight relay and a larger fuse on the high amperage side of the headlight circuit.

I burned out the light switch in the steering column by putting the wire across the headlight relay. I can't figure out why that happened. Seems like I would have blown the fuse before the switch was damaged.

The Mitsubishi dealer said that they don't sell just the headlight switch. The whole electronic assembly in the steering column must be replaced and the part costs $289.

I wasn't going to spend $289 for a switch for a 16 year old car. I went to Checker auto parts and picked up 2 $5 switches (one for the tail lights, one for headlights) and wired them in.

I passed the safety inspection for another year with a little bubble gum and duct tape!

Side note: When they did my emissions testing, it got an excellent emissions score. Not bad for a car with 137K miles.