Electrical short diagnosis: help!

[YGETV8]

Hi All,

I haven't been spending too much time on this lately, so I hope this finds everyone well!

Anyway, I have a short which pulled my brand new battery down to 1.8 volts in a day and a half! I have to admit I am "electrical system challenged!" I have isolated the power draw to the "cig-clock" fuse following a buddy's advice on how to trace the problem at the battery neg cable with a voltmeter, but what next? That darn fuse powers everything from the cig lighter, the radio AND clock, and all the interior lights! How the heck do I trace it from here? Disassemble everything and pull the individual power supplies?

Thanks,

 

[salvageV6]

Start with the Cig. Lighter and socket, usually the culprit.

Then go to easy stuff like the glove box and trunk light.

Then underhood light.

Also runs the BAT terminals in the fuse box so check them for added options and electronic stuff you may have put on the car.

Eliminate the circuits one at a time until you find the problem.

Make sure the power antenna isn't running too.

Vanity mirror lamp and interior lamps too, should be easy to check those.

Add on radio crap as well in the memory lead and the radio capacitor itself.

You will find it.

 

[YGETV8]

Thanks, Salvage! I found it... apparently, the trunk light was stuck "on!" Course, that was the fifth thing I checked after pulling out the radio and all. Oh Well!

Next question: where is the trunk light "on/off" switch? I don't see one! Doh! (Yes, I pulled the bulb to prevent this problem, till I can figure out why it did that!)

Thanks, Jay

 

[salvageV6]

It's built into the housing for the bulb.

Mercury tilt type switch I think.

Perhaps it's misaligned in the trunk for the tilt angle and stays on and can be adjusted again.

Usually they just go bad however and I'd hunt down a used one off a Regal as I don't think they are TR specific, or get one from Brian Weaver used.

About 1 amp. is a dead giveaway for the old 89 lamps.

 

[YGETV8]

Thanks for all the help! I took her for a drive this evening and we are feeling much better now, thank you! (with the gremlins that keep popping up this year, I have only had it out about four times thus far!) Jay