Electrical problem...any ideas...pleaes help!

[BrandonJD25]

Just picked up an '02 GT. Been blowin a fuze (#7) that controls interior lights (dome lights, trunk, etc), and a part of the GEM (generic electronic module). That's about the extent of my knowledge.

Talked to my mechanic who think it mide be the GEm itself, or even a short in the headlight knob (would be his first assumption).

Does anybody have any ideas, or has anybody had a similar problem?!

[cobra1923]

Any aftermarket stuff installed? Radio, alarm, gauges, remote start, radar det, ipod, GPS... some times people will tap into a hot wire and don't tape up well or seal and eventually it rubs something and starts grounding out. I am assuming that bridge is already crossed since you've talked to a mechanic about it. my '67 headlight switch used to ground itself out and my fox GTs had terrible issues with the foglight switch but I've never heard of any issues with the '02s?

I really hate electrical issues, you either end up throwing unnecesary parts at it or waste time/money on the diagnosis.

[BrandonJD25]

yah...i looked into that.

according to the last owner the only aftermarkets installed were a K&N air filter and flowmaster mufflers...nothing electronic.

i went out and bought a box of fuses today, and ran some tests of my own. it's something with the dome light. when i put a new fuse in: the courtesy lights work fine, the headlights work (turning on/off)...but when i go to open either door or turn the headlight knob to manually turn on the dome light *pop. so..i'm assuming it's a grounding somewhere in the dome light wiring. i've heard of possible issues with the headlight knob doing this, and since the doors run through that to turn on the dome lights...i think that's the issue.

i'm gonna replace that piece...and let yall know what's up. does that sound like a probable solution??

[BrandonJD25]

ok so, i replaced the headlight switch. it worked...for about 3 hours and then blew again! before i replaced the switch it would blow immediately (as soon as i'd open a door, or turn the knob). after i replaced the switch i tried everything and couldn't get it to blow, but later on last night i opened the door to get in and *POP!

this is driving me crazy, i'm guessing it's either a problem with the GEM module itself, or still a crimp somewhere along the line for the dome light. the previous owner had the window motor replaced in the driver side door...thinkin maybe a wire got crimped or grounded somewhere in there?


i'd really rather not have to take it in to some place to run hours of diagnostics and go ripping out wires $$$

[Randy Stinchcomb]

probly the pin switches in the door latch(s), common problem on 1999 up cars and trucks...the grease they come packed wth from the factory gets hard, esp when the weather turns cold and the thick grease wont allow the pin in the switch to retract, which usally leaves the dome lamp on and kills the battery....so I would start wth the pin switch in the door latch...

[BrandonJD25]

the passenger side door has had some work. the previous owner said they had the power window switch replaced in the driver door, but i'm thinkin he might have meant the passenger door because it has some issues. the window seams to go up too high, so it's kinda hard to get it to latch shut correctly. the idea with the door latch sounds like a possible solution, given the issues with that door...i'll check it out.

[BrandonJD25]

ok so, i did another experiment. with the car locked i gently lifted up on the driver side handle....nothing. but when i do the same to the passenger side handle there's a definite *pop* sound (as if something were grounding). i'm thinkin the short is in the passenger side door hand, and if that's where the switch itself is for the dome light...that would make sense.

...sound plausible?