short in 30 amp circuit

[raslenny]

I own a 1992 astro van over the last few months it would blow the fuse for the circuit that the cigarette lighter,power mirrors,radio,interior lights,horn are on I would put another fuse in and go on about my business. until the next time which might not be for months. A few days ago it blew, now everytime I put a fuse in it blows time it touches the contacts.I disconnected the radio,the horns at the horn,the front cigarette lighter,my alarm and it still blows fuses .I figure it's a direct short somewhere but I have no idea where to start looking since I got just about everything disconnected. any ideas thank you

[drew300]

I've used a lamp instead of the fuse to trouble this type of problem. Get a higher wattage lamp (headlamp bulb), and with some wires, plug that into the fuse socket. Then start wiggleing the wires. The current is limited by the lamp, so nothing burns, and when you clear the fault, the lamp goes out.
I've found that the wires that move most often wear and short, so I'd be suspicious of the wires in the doors for the mirriors.
You might try a turn signal type lamp first, but it may get lit up by a small drain, like the radio memory or so.

[raslenny]

Originally Posted by raslenny

I own a 1992 astro van over the last few months it would blow the fuse for the circuit that the cigarette lighter,power mirrors,radio,interior lights,horn are on I would put another fuse in and go on about my business. until the next time which might not be for months. A few days ago it blew, now everytime I put a fuse in it blows time it touches the contacts.I disconnected the radio,the horns at the horn,the front cigarette lighter,my alarm and it still blows fuses .I figure it's a direct short somewhere but I have no idea where to start looking since I got just about everything disconnected. any ideas thank you

Thanks for that tip I will try it as soon as I get it dug out we got 6 inches of snow last night . Thanks again