How-To: Identify Which Circuit Is Shorted In Your Car's Electrical System

[spacedog0o1]

This is taken from the Haynes 86-92 Corolla Repair manual. It's the procedure for identifying which circuit is shorted in your car's electrical system:

"With the key off, insert a test light between the negative battery post and the disconnected negative cable clamp.
-If the test light comes on, there is a short in the electrical system of the vehicle.

Disconnect the alternator wiring harness.
-If the light goes out, the alternator is bad.
-If the light stays on, pull each fuse until the test light goes out (this will tell you which circuit is shorted)."

Then you would obviously fix the short in the circuit you identified.

There ya go, I hope this helps anyone who is having battery charging issues related to short circuits. For more detailed information about how to check your charging system look at the Electrical Section in the Hayne's Manual. For the Hayne's Manual check out my sig.

[2004]

thanks for taking the time to rewrite all this!