That's cool. I'll let you all know what I find.
Thanks to everyone.
Tom Burke
In a message dated 5/29/2004 2:03:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
flinters@roomies.furry.com writes:
> Sad to say, I don't know what the stock fuse should be in a Spit. I put a
> 35A circuit breaker and never looked back.
>
> The alternator is wired up so that most of its power goes to the
> battery. It will only put out a maximum of 35A under load and more often
> less than that. The way things are wired, think of it as the alternator
> charges the battery non-stop while the battery supplies power to the car.
>
> The fuse is only pulling what power is needed by the car at the time.
>
> Luckily you can test for shorts pretty easily thanks to the simple fuse
> block of the Spitfire.
>
> If you have test light (and you should keep one in your car or toolbox
> handy), disconnect one terminal from the battery, such as the negative
> (preferred). Hook your test light between the battery cable and the
> exposed battery terminal itself. This makes the bulb in your light a
> 'fuse' essentially. Here's the neat thing about doing this. The MAXIMUM
> load this circuit will pull now will be just enough power to light the test
> light and no more. What that means is even if you had a dead short
> someplace down the line, the fuse won't blow and the light will just come
> on. Much safer.
>
> With everything off in the car, does the light go on? If so, it means
> something is either still on or is shorted. Pull your main fuse out. Did
> the light go out? Okay, you know it's in the main circuit, so you can
> eliminate all wiring between the battery and that main fuse.
>
> Pull the next fuse below it out. Did it go out? If so, check what circuit
> that is and disconnect any items on it. Do the same for the next and final
> fuses. You'll be able to determine very quickly what circuit is the
> culprit.
>
> So, you've determined it's one of the main fuses. Heck, it's the main fuse
> itself that gives you trouble. Now you need to start disconnecting main
> body harness connectors to see if the problem is there. A dead short
> enough to pop a 35A fuse is pretty significant. Disconnect the alternator
> wires. Then starter. Keep watching that test light. Headlight
> switch. Keep at it and you will find the short. Then it's a matter of
> repair, replace, and rebuild the affected component.
>
> -Vegaman Dan
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