Strange Electrical Problem - 20+ Amps to the parking lights?

[JesseCuster]

Success ... sort of.

The short is in the right rear side marker light, but I still don't know where, exactly, and I'm not really that concerned about it ATM.

My troubleshooting technique probably won't ever make it into the official manuals. Basically, I just cut the grey & red wire where it entered the trunk, then tested both ends. The front half checked out ok, the rear half didn't. From there, I basically snipped it at each place, until I determined that it was the side marker. For now, I've just got the two wires going to it cut off, bent over, and taped down so that there's no power going to it. I'll deal with it after I figure out how to take it out of the bumper covering thingy... and I didn't feel like messing with it just now.


Thanks for the help, Ron - I really appreciate it!

-JC

[a]

IIRC, the rear marker lights are held in by a screw with a 8mm ( 7 mm?) head It is on the inner side of the side moldng. The leads plug into the harness behind the side panel.

[Karl Grau]

I would suspect the headlight switch

You would think after 18 years of e28s I would know by now to stick with the basics when it comes to troubleshooting. If you thought that, you would be wrong.
I've been dicking around with a fuse #9 blowing problem since May. I assumed it had to be related to something I'd done recently like stereo, parking lights and headlamp washers. I've torn the car apart and FINALLY did what I should have started with, yep, it was a bad headlight switch.


Arrrgh, I can't believe all the time I wasted with Monterey so near.