Need help with a fuse problem

[battle max]

Let me first start off by appologizing for the newbie question i searched to no avail. The fuse cover thats on the drivers side left panel is missing and i noticed that fuse 1,5 and 14 are missing and i have no idea what they are for. I purchased the car last week and it looks as if the previous owner was in a rush and ripped out the stereo equipment but left all the wires for me to solve:loco: Just trying to figure out why when i turn my car on the block back light is always on. On a side note does the clock in a s13 always stay on even when the key isnt in the ignition? Again sorry for the stupid questions im learning i promise. :2f2f:

[g6civcx]

Is this an S13? Which year?

And yes, the clock always stays on. The backlight may go on and off with ignition, but the clock doesn't drain much current, no more than what the small battery in your wristwatch can supply :)

[battle max]

Is this an S13? Which year?

And yes, the clock always stays on. The backlight may go on and off with ignition, but the clock doesn't drain much current, no more than what the small battery in your wristwatch can supply :)

Its a 1990 S13 sorry...:hs: And thanks for your help on both of my threads. :bigok:

[mandoz85]

here is a pic. of the fuse table

http://www.photodump.org/stored5/fuse_table.jpg

[g6civcx]

Great pix. I'm not sure which ones you're calling 1, 5, and 14, but if they're what I think they are, 1 is for cruise control, 5 is for rear wiper and washer and power mirrors, and 14 is for daylight running lights (Canada only).

Go to zeroyon.com and download the DOHC S13 FSM. Most of the wiring diagrams will be similar. Look in the EL section for the fusebox description.

[battle max]

Great pix. I'm not sure which ones you're calling 1, 5, and 14, but if they're what I think they are, 1 is for cruise control, 5 is for rear wiper and washer and power mirrors, and 14 is for daylight running lights (Canada only).


That explains is i have a base model and none of those features. Now i just have to figure out why my clock light is always on. Thanks dude.

[mjjstang]

hahah my clock light is always off. that sucks, I guess always off is better than on though, cuz the clock is always wrong anyway, it shouldnt be though, it has its own damn button onlike any other cars ive ever had, anyway in my s13 those fuse receptacles dont even have a load side pin in them, just the hot, so that way I can tell if there was something that was supposed to go there, I just have all my gauges running off them.

[g6civcx]

What happens to your clock backlight when you turn on the light switch? What about the rest of the cluster? Does it stay up all the time or does it go on and off with the light switch like normal?

[battle max]

the light stays on rather the head lights are on or not I did notice when I turn on the hazards the clock light dims but other than that its seems to be okay.

[g6civcx]

I would check the printed circuit board on the back of the cluster to see if it's damaged. The bulb should only get power when the light switch is turned to parking or headlights. Maybe it got damaged and is pulling constant power.

The rest of the cluster illumination operates off of the same wire. It's strange that only the clock backlight stays on constantly.

[battle max]

UPDATE:

My car died on me on friday basically started it up drove 5 miles when i went to get back into the car nothing would work. Okay i assumed it was the battery i took it to the local autoparts store and they fully recharged it and stated the battery was fine. I noticed that the clock light was always on when i put the battery back in. Car started no problem i started it today and drove it for a few miles everyting seemed okay. I went to go start it 5 minutes ago and nothing came on same symptoms as friday. When i tried to jump start it nothing. Im assuming my altenator died on my friday i recharged the battery and the car was running off the battery earlier and died on me again. Does this sound like im on the right page with the strange clock light being on etc?? Sorry for the long post fellas but im 99 percent sure im on the right track.

[g6civcx]

Did you jumpstart it correctly? If you did and it didn't crank you have bad wiring somewhere.

[battle max]

i jump started it using a box and cables with my other car. Nothing.

[battle max]

UPDATE AGAIN!!! I noticed today when i open and close the door i hear a buzzing sound from what it sounds like to be behind the guage cluster. The car has loose wires from the previous owners system. The buzzing really only sounded when i closed the door or when the door was at certain positions when im attempting to close it. I got in the car closed the door when the buzzing started i pressed the button that flips the headlights up and the buzzing stopped. This may be a long shot but if i try to remove the wires from the previous owners system i hope it will stop. Anyone have any ideas on how i can pin point the problem??

[ledzeppelin240]

You could check for draw on the battery and it should be no higher than 50mA. Also if there are lights on that will drain the battery. You could check the alternator it should put out 13.5v-14.5v and check to see what amperage it puts out under load (IE: with lights on, blower motor on, rear defog)

It does sound like you have a short copper or short to power, if there was a short to ground it blows the fuse but a short to power only has a slight chance of blowing the fuse.