#8 fuse keeps popping. Any common causes?

[zheg]

Searched and didn't find anything relating to the #8 fuse. Controls the taillights, interior gauge lights among other things like the door open signal & interior head lamp. I've replaced it twice now in about 1000 miles of driving. None of the other fuses have had problems so far. I have a '76, btw.

Anything that's pretty common to this occurrence or is this a start from scratch debug time?

[Napes]

Probably a shorted wire somewhere. If it were me I's start by carefully withdrawing the door light switches and look at the connections. If the connectors don't have plastic housings over them you might want to put a little elec. tape around them to keep them from shorting out to metal.

Next thing I'd look at is the wiring back at the tail lights. Both of these areas can be subjected to moisture and could be the source of your problem.

Bob Napier

[roadhog0]

I think the #8 fuse is also the smog stuff AND fuel cut off solenoid. If you removed the solenoids and left the wires dangling then they short from time to time. I learned that the hard way...

[Mike Self]

so look for a short somewhere--I'd start with the bulb sockets, then look for a pinched wire in the trunk somwhere.

Don't know if the 74-76 cars have the "on street parking light" feature of the 72-73 cars, where if you leave your turn signal on with the ign off, it'll illuminate your left or right parking & tail light. But if the later cars don't have the feature, they're wired for it. If that feature works, then that'll involve your turn signal lever. But I'd check bulb sockets and grounds first.

cheers

mike

[zheg]

Thanks, guys... I'll check it out this weekend.