One hell of an electrical gremlin

[Mensaf]

A few days ago, my climate control unit shut off. I knew I had to replace it due to the buttons being worn and it randomly changing settings, and this meant that I had to do it. So I took out the old one, tossed in one I bought a few months ago off ebay, and all was well for about 2 days.

Started the car in the morning, pressed the button, and nothing. Phone charger wasn't lit, and clock wasn't working, so the first thing I though was that it was just the fuse. Sure enough, I pulled it, and it was blown. Replaced, ignition on, and it blew immediately. Did it again and it yielded the same results, obviously there was an issue.

In addition to this, I've had a recent issue with my main window switch where sometimes I would press it, and it would take a second for the driver window to go down. I figured I'd have to get the switch, posted, but never found anything, so I left it as is. The functionality of all the other windows was fine. Driving this morning, I suddenly found that my window wouldn't open, and neither would any of the others from my switch. I leaned over to the passenger side, and saw that it went up and down, though I tried it again at home and it didn't budge.

I searched the site, checked my fuses and whatnot, and can't find jack. I haven't checked the relay under the driver seat, but my seats and sunroof are fine, so I'm going to assume that it's not the issue unless someone else thinks otherwise. I took everything apart again to see if I left anything loose, and it all checked out.

So now I have no A/C and my windows don't work, and I'm supposed to drive to my graduation tomorrow like this. Anyone know what's going on? I'm out of things to check, and this is really making me a sad panda. Please advise.

[Wikedjuggalo]

Give me a minute to find my post.
And here it is
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=52869

I should ask if your radio works.

Also I can't comment on the windows I don't believe it to be a related issue just one that happened at the same time.

[TomsSVX]

Find all units in the circuit for the fuse that keeps blowing...

Unplug them one by one why measuring resistance to ground using a std DVOM. Once there is an open circuit or very high resistance to ground, you have found your component that is cooking... or at very least you have found the section of wire that is shorting out. Have you had an alternator failure recently?

Tom

[Mensaf]

Originally Posted by Wikedjuggalo

Give me a minute to find my post.
And here it is
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=52869

I should ask if your radio works.

Also I can't comment on the windows I don't believe it to be a related issue just one that happened at the same time.

My radio works, and I don't SEEM to be having the same problems you were describing in that post. The cig fuse is not blown in my car. Regardless, I do recall that my light in the visor stopped working recently, but I haven't checked the bulb to see if it's blown. I'm going to do that tomorrow, I honestly hope the issue is related to that.

Originally Posted by TomsSVX

Find all units in the circuit for the fuse that keeps blowing...

Unplug them one by one why measuring resistance to ground using a std DVOM. Once there is an open circuit or very high resistance to ground, you have found your component that is cooking... or at very least you have found the section of wire that is shorting out. Have you had an alternator failure recently?

Tom

Sounds like a field day No alternator fault. I've got half a mind at this point to put in a 25 amp fuse and see what starts smoking...but that'd just be out of frustration. On a side note, how the hell do you remove the cigarette lighter without breaking anything? I wanted to check the connection behind it but couldn't get it out for the life of me.

[TomsSVX]

its a huige PITA to remove that... Leave it there.

Really it sounds like your ACC functions have all gone to ****... although the sunroof is working yes??

It does take a bit of time and a schematic to help point out the items in the circuit... But you don't really have a choice do you?

Tom

[Mensaf]

Originally Posted by TomsSVX

its a huige PITA to remove that... Leave it there.

Really it sounds like your ACC functions have all gone to ****... although the sunroof is work yes??

It does take a bit of time and a schematic to help point out the items in the circuit... But you don't really have a choice do you?

Tom

HURR. Kinda wish I had crank windows right about now. I just don't understand how they all took a dump right around the same time.

Oh, and $5 says you don't miss the SVX, do you? lol.

[TomsSVX]

I still have the silver... its for sale though... the windows work in that... wana buy it?

Tom

[Mensaf]

lol, great reasoning. I want to buy it. I mean at $8000...man. The drivetrain and supercharger alone make it so worth it. I'd just afriad of all the little specially customized bits and pieces, and all my cash and credit will soon be tied up in a business I'm starting up. Just waiting for a few more papers on that end. Seriously might just use my bike to get to work to eliminate all extra costs as it is, lol.

But yea, I think about that car a lot dude. 8gs. Do you know what kind of 240sx gets sold for 8gs? Usually ones that are just swapped and cammed. I know they're lame, but have you tried tristatetuners, njtuners, nazicock, rs25, and the like?

[kcbsvx]

Hi Mensaf-
I might recall a thread once mentioning the visor light wires shorting near the visor hinge.

[Mensaf]

Originally Posted by Wikedjuggalo

Give me a minute to find my post.
And here it is
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=52869

I should ask if your radio works.

Also I can't comment on the windows I don't believe it to be a related issue just one that happened at the same time.

I just checked the bulbs in the visor and saw that they were blown. Odds of it being a coincidence? Hopefully slim. I'm going to follow up in the morning, and if not, try to pull the driver seat after work and check that relay. Maybe only part of it is blown or something? All I know is that no windows or A/C is hell right about now.

[michael]

IIRC removing the cigarette light isn't all that hard. It's removing the wood grain part that's difficult. I had a similar problem, turned out to be the fuseable link on the back of the lighter. If that is the problem, don't get an aftermarket lighter. If you use your lighter at all OEM is where it's at!

[Mensaf]

Originally Posted by michael

IIRC removing the cigarette light isn't all that hard. It's removing the wood grain part that's difficult. I had a similar problem, turned out to be the fuseable link on the back of the lighter. If that is the problem, don't get an aftermarket lighter. If you use your lighter at all OEM is where it's at!

I have a huge feeling that it's coming from that. How the hell do you take that woodgrain off without breaking it? I was ready to pull it and snap whatever was holding it. The fuse blows even if the climate control is off, so it has to be something live.

[Wikedjuggalo]

Originally Posted by Mensaf

I just checked the bulbs in the visor and saw that they were blown. Odds of it being a coincidence? Hopefully slim. I'm going to follow up in the morning, and if not, try to pull the driver seat after work and check that relay. Maybe only part of it is blown or something? All I know is that no windows or A/C is hell right about now.

hold on now... did they both blow around the same time? I'd attempt to recheck your work you did with the other unit. Check and make sure there isn't a wire being shorted / grounded in the wrong place.

[svxcess]

Originally Posted by kcbsvx

Hi Mensaf-
I might recall a thread once mentioning the visor light wires shorting near the visor hinge.

I second checking the visor wires. Use of the visors sometimes causes these wires to break and short to the inside of the pillar.

Many odd electrical malfunctions have been traced back to this.

Just unscrew the visor at the mounting plates and see if the wires are broken.

Read THIS THREAD

.

[Wikedjuggalo]

Originally Posted by svxcess

I second checking the visor wires. Use of the visors sometimes causes these wires to break and short to the inside of the pillar.

Many odd electrical malfunctions have been traced back to this.

Just unscrew the visor at the mounting plates and see if the wires are broken.

Read THIS THREAD

.

Hi John,

Do me a favor and click the link in post #2