ok, to keep this thirdgen related, both of my cars have eclipse head units in them. Well my winter car, which is an 83 buick, just decided it wanted to have an electrical problem. my radio, analog clock in the dash, power windows, and cigg. lighter wont work nemore. The fuse is blown, so i went to replace it, and it blew again. IM thinkin maybe there's a short somewhere. Any suggestoins? Just as further info, the doors are pretty hollow from rust (maybe water shorted them?), and my radio constant on is spliced into the cigg. lighter power wire, but the best shop in town did it, so im thinkin that aint it. also the constant on wire has a fuse in it, and it isnt blown. i reeeallly need some help here guyz because i dont have the money to take it to a shop to have them look at it.

 

check your fuse box i believe the one for accesories is probably blown and if it blows again, then replace it with a 30 fuse

 

Is it safe tho to just replace it with a stronger fuse?..i knwo its a 20 amp fuse..but if soemthin is shorting out wont that be a hazard to my car or soemthin?

 

sounds like something it asking for more current then allowed by the fuse..

does the new fuse blow right when you put it in...
or does it blow when you using one of the power options?

sounds like to many thing hooked up to the same fuse maybe, try alittle bigger fuse and keep an eye on it..

 

It blows right as soon as i put it in, doesnt even last a second. But what i dont get is if more power is bein drawn than the fuse will allow, why hasnt it blown before?...because ive had the stereo along w/the rest of the stuff in there since i got the car like 4 years ago. why would it magically all of a sudden go hey..i need more power?

 

Check you cig. lighter for loose change...

Installing a larger fuse to solve a fuse blowing problem is never a good idea.

 

something has shorted it seems... to much current draw somewhere in the circuit!

yeah i should of not said that either installing a bigger fuse wont fix things, but you never know if might weed out the thing thats the problem..

i was thinking also of something shorting out the lighter also, like change or some small tools, moving around..

 

Because it catches fire ? (just messin with ya )

 

There is no change in the cigg lighter, and also there is no tools in it either..i keep my change in the ash tray. I have no clue as to where soemthing would short out, or why..i really dont wanna have to take it to someone.

 

Anymore suggestions anyone?

 

If you've got fire insurance, having the car catch fire and burn because of an uncorrected electrical problem is one solution to the problem. Insurance company will provide you with a check for the loss and you can buy another car without the electrical gremlins that the last one had.

 

yea, insurance fraud...brilliant idea..anyone else got a INTELLIGENT idea?

 

Hahahah...

The cigarette lighter is almost always prime suspect with these problems. Double check that nothing is being weird in there. Otherwise you're going to have to take a look at your wires and see if anything is amiss. If you take your time, you'll find the problem and save a little money over bringing it to a shop.

 

How would i tell if a wire burned out or somehtin?..will it look scorched?..and what about possibly using a multi meter?. LIke the cig liter is just one 12volt wire, so would i put the neg of the meter to the chassis or somethin to act as the ground?