Need help running down a short

[chembrad]

Hey all,

My '90 Geo Metro blows the turn signal fuse when I use the turn signals.

Anyone have any experience running down a short that can give me some instructions on how to do it? Thx!

[thejacobhartman]

first thing is pull all the bulbs and relays. if it doesn't blow it is one of them and they are cheap so as long as it is out, replace it. if it still blows it is a wire. if not, leave everything out, disconnect the battery, cause meters aint cheap, nad start checking continuity to ground at every bulbs positve feed. if a positve wire shows anything less than 1000ohms it could be your problem. a good short will be between 0-20 and that is definatley a problem. when you find one you have to start following it back until you find where it is shorted.

[SeanMurphy]

If you're blowing fuses, that means you've got a short somewhere in the circuit. Try pulling the bulb to one signal and testing them, then the other. Does it still blow a fuse with one or the other bulb removed? Chances are you've got a cracked wire thats touching the chasis. Another possibility is a broken bulb, they're cheap, try replacing them.

If all this fails, like i said, you've got a cracked or broken wire. You can backtrace the wires to see where it's broken, and patch or replace a section of wire where it's broken. I recommend soldering since it's probably an under-hood wire, but a butt connector of appropriate size will work, as well, though it'll corrode quicker than a taped solder joint.