ok… fuse #11 in the kick panel on the driver side keeps going out (tail lights, dash lights, etc)… it just started doing it and so far i’ve replaced it 3 times in the past 2 or 3 weeks…
also… does anyone have any good tips for cleaning rotor dust/brake dust off my rims? i’m afraid to scrape them up - but its pretty hard to get off, and looks nasty (orangeish color on white rims) thanks
did you happen to recently install a stereo in your car? There is a wire located behind the stereo. its used on the stock deck, but very few aftermarket deck’s. Its purpose is to tell the stereo to dim its lights when you turn your headlights on (just like the clock dims and the dash lights go on when you turn your headlights on). This is all on the same fuse circuit. Often that wire isn’t taped off properly and will occasionally nudge up against a piece of metal and ground itself… thus blowing the fuse. If you put in a stereo recently, or were fooling around back there i’d be willing to be thats your problem. but even if you haven’t i’d check it anyway. (it should be the only wire that isn’t connected to anything).
as for the brake dust. I use simple green or even normal car wash to get it off. Along with a soft sponge or terry cloth. It hasn’t damaged my white wheels yet. Just make sure you’re using a lot of water, if you’re wiping them when they are dry you could start abrasing them a little.
hope that helps. good luck.
Originally posted by 91IntegGS
[B]did you happen to recently install a stereo in your car? There is a wire located behind the stereo. its used on the stock deck, but very few aftermarket deck’s. Its purpose is to tell the stereo to dim its lights when you turn your headlights on (just like the clock dims and the dash lights go on when you turn your headlights on). This is all on the same fuse circuit. Often that wire isn’t taped off properly and will occasionally nudge up against a piece of metal and ground itself… thus blowing the fuse. If you put in a stereo recently, or were fooling around back there i’d be willing to be thats your problem. but even if you haven’t i’d check it anyway. (it should be the only wire that isn’t connected to anything).
good luck. [/B]
Its nice to see a post where someone knows what they are talking about. 91INTEGGS hit the nail on the head. This is a common problem when people hook up decks because that wire shows as a ground until you turn on the headlights / parking lights. Most people don’t know to test the wires with the parking lights on and again with them off.
91INTEGGS Did you work in a stereo shop too?
Originally posted by 2ndJenn
[B]
Its nice to see a post where someone knows what they are talking about. 91INTEGGS hit the nail on the head. This is a common problem when people hook up decks because that wire shows as a ground until you turn on the headlights / parking lights. Most people don’t know to test the wires with the parking lights on and again with them off.
91INTEGGS Did you work in a stereo shop too? [/B]
no, didn’t work at a stereo shop. I just ran into the same problem. once i installed my deck and it started shorting. The guy who had installed the previous deck didn’t tape the wire. but it was out of the way. when i installed the new deck i must have moved it in such a way that it started grounding. so i taped that sucka up!
funny you mention the stereo shop job though. i am thikning about trying to get one during the school year. i know a decent amount about stereo stuff (more about manufacturing custom enclosures and basic wiring than about the technical stuff… but i can and want to learn).
no. i didn’t just install my stereo… i haven’t changed anything electrically on my car since i bought it (july of 2001) …
and about the stuff on the rims, its not just brake dust… its from the rotor… it was metal to metal - the shoe (i guess that’s what its called) of the brake pad and the rotor scraping together and it leaves a orangish film on the rims which is very hard to get off… i dont want to use something that’s too rough that will scratch up the rims but i haven’t been able to find anything that works too well…
Originally posted by narundomestics
[B]no. i didn’t just install my stereo… i haven’t changed anything electrically on my car since i bought it (july of 2001) …
and about the stuff on the rims, its not just brake dust… its from the rotor… it was metal to metal - the shoe (i guess that’s what its called) of the brake pad and the rotor scraping together and it leaves a orangish film on the rims which is very hard to get off… i dont want to use something that’s too rough that will scratch up the rims but i haven’t been able to find anything that works too well… [/B]
i’d still check that wire to be sure. there is a chance something made it come loose. at least its an easy place to start. you can also check the wiring up by the corner lights, possibly its grounding somewhere there.
as for the wheels. sounds like you’ll just have to risk it. i have no idea how else you’d clean rims but with water, a cleaning agent and some type of soft rag.
Re: i have two questions
Originally posted by narundomestics
also… does anyone have any good tips for cleaning rotor dust/brake dust off my rims? i’m afraid to scrape them up - but its pretty hard to get off, and looks nasty (orangeish color on white rims) thanks
I tried Rain-X Wheel Protectant that is supposed to “prevent” brake dust build-up but it was about as useless as tits on a snake.
Originally posted by 91IntegGS
[B]
i’d still check that wire to be sure. there is a chance something made it come loose. at least its an easy place to start. you can also check the wiring up by the corner lights, possibly its grounding somewhere there.
as for the wheels. sounds like you’ll just have to risk it. i have no idea how else you’d clean rims but with water, a cleaning agent and some type of soft rag. [/B]
yeah. when i get some spare time i’ll check those wires… as for the rims… a rag isn’t harsh enough to get it off… you have to scrape it pretty hard with your fingernail to get it off… i bought a pretty tough bristled brush-like thing hoping it would work, and it does a little bit, but not well enough… just thought maybe there was something made for this type of thing… i’ll just keep searching … thanks guys
damn, thats very strange, i’ve never heard of anything like that. is it completely covering the wheels? or is it just a couple specks here and there.
never heard of anything like that before. goodluck.
Put some elbow grease into it!! 
Originally posted by Matt1600
Put some elbow grease into it!!
yeah - i might just take off the wheel one weekend and go at it… it’ll probably take a pretty damn long time 