Triumphrat

worldspeaker · 11-09-2009, 07:37 PM

Found myself riding my 96 Adventurer at night without instrument lights. Checked the bulbs and found two of the four burned out. Replaced all with LED's. Look great! I also found the fuse had blown. Replaced the fuse and all worked fine, for a little while. After a few minutes the fuse blows again. Nothing had been done to the bike prior to the first blown fuse. I realize I might be starting the nightmare of trying to find a short in the wiring. I am looking for suggestions. Is there anything else that could be causing this? If it is a short is there a place it normally happens on these bikes? Thanks for your suggestions.

Dave

ssevy · 11-09-2009, 07:44 PM

Most likely you have a wire which has rubbed through the insulation where it goes into the back of the headlight housing. The wiring harness has been known to chafe at this location, and it is a matter of carefully pulling the loom out and looking for bare spots. I find electrician's tape to be a pain to use in wire bundles, so I use this:

You can find it at most hardware stores. It is also great for treating the ends of bootlaces so they don't fray.

worldspeaker · 11-09-2009, 08:04 PM

Thanks, that is where I will start my search.

Shadowofleaves · 11-09-2009, 08:08 PM

+1 on the headlight housing. Mt 2001 T-bird was popping a fuse every time I flipped on the high beam. As a result, my instrument panel and Tach went dead each time the fuse blew. My headlight housing was disassembled but no bare wire was ever found. The whole thing was re-assembled and I haven't had a problem with the fuse box since. I guess that pulling the wires loose to inspect them sort of "corrected" whatever problem was going on in there.

BigAl8295 · 11-11-2009, 08:23 AM

You may also want to check the housing on the license plate housing. I had water getting into mine, causing a short, and blowing that same fuse.

worldspeaker · 11-12-2009, 12:46 AM

the worst part about electrical issues is sometimes you are not really sure if you fixed anything. I started looking into all the suggestions and found that the wire coming from the taillights (thanks Big Al for sending me that direction) had been really crimped under the seat. I had moved wires in the headlight but did not "see" any bare wires that could be arcing. I then uncrimped the taillight wire and put in a new fuse and rode for 50 miles. So far no issues. Don't feel like I really fixed anything but it seems to work. Instruments work and so do taillights. The only issue now is the brake lights do not come on with the rear brake. They are fine with the front brake but not the back. I appreciate all the suggestions. Need to figure out the rear brake situation and then I think I am good to go. Here in Socal we can ride all year but a lot of it is in the dark. Thanks again for all your help.

Dave

Tbirdnz · 11-15-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldspeaker

........ The only issue now is the brake lights do not come on with the rear brake. They are fine with the front brake but not the back..............Dave

Wow 3 days and no reply, we must be all on holiday !

Follow the rear-brake arm and find the small electrical connection to the switch which has electrical wires out of it to the rear light. Check that area first, could be a faulty. The switch itself is hydraulic so if you have to replace the switch you will need to bleed the brakes but check the wiring to it first.

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Ride on !