Brake wiring, short circuit

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MEMBER
1984 MERCURY MARQUIS
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
200,000 MILES

I have no brake lights. I checked the fuse and put a new fuse in. When I step on the brake it blows the fuse. It must be a wiring problem or short circuit. My question is where do I begin to look with trying to fix the problem. The brake pedal doenst feel quite right either.

Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 AT 11:21 PM

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
34,330 POSTS

The most likely place to find chewed up wires is in the trunk and a trailer harness. To save wasting fuses, use a pair of spade terminals and jumper wires to plug in a 12 volt light bulb in place of the blowing fuse. Use a stick from the seat to the brake pedal to hold the pedal down just enough to turn on the brake light switch. The test bulb will be full brightness when the short is in the circuit. Now you can unplug things and move wires around. The bulb will get dim when the short is removed from the circuit.

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Sunday, April 3rd, 2011 AT 1:46 AM