how do you find a short with the multimeter

I should show infinit resistance when contacting each side of the fuse terminal with the probes right? Then, when I find the deadshort, and eliminate it, I should see a +-50ohm value right?

I can't seem to find my short in the "tail" circuit. I guess I will just start taking the car apart and look for a jacked up red/blk wire right?

and thanks for help.

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Originally Posted by mr brg

I should show infinit resistance when contacting each side of the fuse terminal with the probes right? Then, when I find the deadshort, and eliminate it, I should see a +-50ohm value right?

I can't seem to find my short in the "tail" circuit. I guess I will just start taking the car apart and look for a jacked up red/blk wire right?

and thanks for help.

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Try submerging your car in water and looking for the bubbles. Much faster.

Check for continuity, not resistance (underwater gives faster results too).

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Originally Posted by tailchaser

Try submerging your car in water and looking for the bubbles. Much faster.

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:clap: Dang I spit coffee on my monitor and keyboard! :clap:

also... in order to save weight... Mazda included only a VERY small amount of smoke in Miatas. If any let out because of the short, you'll need to replace that before the lights will work properly.

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Originally Posted by sammm

Check for continuity, not resistance (underwater gives faster results too).

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if I have a deadshort after the fuse box, I should be able to pull current when jumping from a power source to after the fuse box right?

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Originally Posted by mr brg

if I have a deadshort after the fuse box, I should be able to pull current when jumping from a power source to after the fuse box right?

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Doing this will likely let out lots of the precious smoke that TC mentioned above...

The best way you are going to find a short in a DC system like this (especially when the common ground is the body of the vehicle) is through a visual inspection.

EDIT: on second thought... if you do what you recommend (with a big enough battery) you will quickly find the short because that's where the fire will start.

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Originally Posted by Dave04

Doing this will likely let out lots of the precious smoke that TC mentioned above...

The best way you are going to find a short in a DC system like this (especially when the common ground is the body of the vehicle) is through a visual inspection.

EDIT: on second thought... if you do what you recommend (with a big enough battery) you will quickly find the short because that's where the fire will start.

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multimeter ftw.

I guess I'll just start stripping the car since the roll bar is about to go in.

Was it the frayed wire you found yesterday that was causing the fuse to blow??

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread...1&page=1&pp=25

btw, did I mention that this totally sucks?

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Was it the frayed wire you found yesterday that was cousing the fuse to blow??

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread...1&page=1&pp=25

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apparently not. I check it again today, and its still taped up. I thought that was the problem because I put another fuse it in and it worked for a day.

sorry I made a mistake. I wish I hadn't.

Have you added anything new to the car recently??

Do you have an aftermarket horn?

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Originally Posted by channelmaniac

Do you have an aftermarket horn?

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Yep. The horn and the tail lights share the same fuse.

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Have you added anything new to the car recently??

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no

I have to check the horn, again...its stock btw.

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Originally Posted by tailchaser

also... in order to save weight... Mazda included only a VERY small amount of smoke in Miatas. If any let out because of the short, you'll need to replace that before the lights will work properly.

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and don't forget the mirrors!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by tailchaser

Try submerging your car in water and looking for the bubbles. Much faster.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by sammm

Check for continuity, not resistance (underwater gives faster results too).

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

:clap: Dang I spit coffee on my monitor and keyboard! :clap:

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Same here!! :clap::clap::clap:

just double checked...the horn does work. Atleast when I get out of work today, its like the most perfect day to have car issues. So nice outside.

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Originally Posted by Dave04

if you do what you recommend (with a big enough battery) you will quickly find the short because that's where the fire will start.

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Plus you can confirm the location by looking for bubbles after you submerse the now burning car in water... which you should have done in the first place.

...or you could park it on I820, across from Hiley Mazda.......