Shoebox thanks so much, you've been a real help! I have these 2 huge tech manuals in my house that the guy gave me when I bought the car, I never had any idea on how to use them though. I went through it tonight and found exactly what you wrote down. I'm still alittle confused on what is an "open" circuit? Does open mean a fuse is blown? Thanks for typing everything out for me b/c that tech book is complicated. I'm pretty new to this kind of stuff and have absolutey no training. knowing what colors the clips are will help alot. Also can I get a test light at pepboys or sears? I'm gonna do this tommorow morning and i'll post the results.

 

Yeah, you can get a little test light just about anywhere. Now that I know you have the books (great way to learn stuff!), I can just point you in the right direction. Wiring diagrams are on the page following the diagnostic procedure for DTC 21/31 if you are in the 8D-11 section. My book is a 1996, but I think most essential info is the same.

An open is lack of continuity-like the wire is not connected or is broken (ex. power not getting from one end to the other). A short to ground (in this case) is when a wire is touching to the metal framework of the car.

 

So if I find that I have a short to ground then I have to retrace the entire wire and see if any of the copper is touching metal (that will be a pain in the @$$)?

 

When you see all the lights on that circuit in the diagram, you will really flip. There are ways to make it a little easier to narrow down. You could even have a bulb that the base of the socket is causing a short.

 

So if its a short to ground then i'm gonna have to check the wire connection at the BCM then if it isn't that I will have to check every connection to all the interior lights?? How would I do that with the map lights...would I have to disconnect the mirror?

 

Ok i'm alittle confused by the tech book now. I connected a test light between connecter C2 (black clip) terminal B and ground. The light was on. I moved to step 5 but what does I/P compartment and console compartment closed mean? I tried connecting E and B and the light went on but I don't know if that is because I/P is open (since I don't know what that is)? And if I do have a short on circuit 149 does that just mean I have to retrace all the courtesy lights?


(shoebox i sent you the same message in an email since I didn't know which you'd check first)

 

I/P= instrument panel
I/P compartment=glove box
console compartment= console

Apparently the 97 manual is written in a slightly different way than my 1996 one. What that is telling you is to test with those doors closed and of course, no switches on for the map lights.

Try removing the bulbs as you go and recheck your "B" to "E" test.

I did not get your email, but I am subscribed to this thread and get notification. I don't come to the V6 forum much.

 

BINGO!!! Turned out that my trunk light was grounded. It seems to work perfectly now! The alarm seems to be working better too. Do you think that the loose battery connections and/or short to ground wire could have been making the alarm act alittle wierd?

 

Low voltage can do wierd things so that could have been a cause. Keep an eye on things and see.