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Sun Jul 13, 2003 1:57 pm

65 beetle, 12v converted, #1 fuse (turn signal, wipers, brake lights) keeps burning up. I've narrowed the problem down to the brakes by replacing the fuse and testing each circuit until it popped, but now I don't know how to go about finding the short-out. I checked the switch already, and the wiring looks good; could it be a malfunctioning switch? Or a bad connection/worn wire past the switch? And how the heck am I gonna find that?

Thanks

Sun Jul 13, 2003 2:28 pm

re-move the rear tailight lenses and bulb holders... undo one wire per side... if the fuse blows you have the short in the wiring leading to the rear, if it blows on one side only the short may be right there at the rear tailight bulb holder.

maybe look for chaffed wiring going from the fusebox to the switch on the master etc.

Sun Jul 13, 2003 2:55 pm

Your brake light wire is black with a red tracer. Look in the engine bay behind the left insulation panel (just bend the clips back to open it a bit) and you'll see a junction block with the black/red wire bridged to 2 terminals. If you disconnect those two wires and the fuse no longer blows then the fault is from the junction to the rear lights. Connect one wire again in turn and you'll be able to determine which side rear light is causing the fault. If the fuse blows with both the wires disconnected then the fault is somewhere between the switch and the junction block. At least that will help you pinpoint the location of the fault.