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Rear running lights keep blowing fuse. Won’t stay on

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by MichaelSpeziale, Jun 15, 2019.

  1. MichaelSpeziale

    MichaelSpeziale Junior Member

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    So a while ago my rear running lights stopped working, and replacing the fuse results in the new fuse immediately popping once it’s in and the lights are turned on. The car was looked at, but I was told the wires from the light to the fuse box are undamaged. What could this problem be??
     
  2. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    A question I have to ask. Who looked at your car? I think an electrician would have been able to locate the problem (it is most likely a very hot short somewhere). Also, if the fuse immediately pops, that is not good! Something, somewhere is touching metal and is ready to fry the circuit. Having delt with shorts before, it is important to have an electrician check it out. He/she will find it.
     
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  3. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Are you talking about the rear "Tail Lights" ?
    No such thing as "rear running lights".

    The problem could be that there is a short in one of the light assemblies itself
    Either LEDs or a conventional bulb.

    When you took it in to have it "looked at" you should have told them to find what the problem IS......instead of just to check the wires.
     
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  4. MichaelSpeziale

    MichaelSpeziale Junior Member

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    Sorry yes the tail lights. The guy was told to find the problem, but his next move was to replace the fuse box. Idky.
     
  5. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

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    That the fuse blows at once is good, because it is easy to chase. You could unplug all the lights on one side, put in a fuse and see if it blows. Then plug them back, unplug the other side, and see if that blows. This would start to cut down the possibilities.

    If you can track it down to one side, you could start with a good fuse and all the bulbs unplugged, plug them in one by one and see exactly which one(s) has/have the short.

    What makes them think that it is the fuse box rather than a wire? Which box do they think it is?
     
    #5 kenmce, Jun 15, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2019
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  6. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    Probably becuase they weren't thinking?
     
  7. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

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    I was thinking that if the problem was in the fuse box the fuse might blow even if every light was unplugged. I was also wondering how they came to the most expensive possible conclusion and if the fix is guaranteed to work.
     
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  8. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    I know............my qoute was a poke at them. I was trying to be funny.............LoL
     
  9. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Most likely guess work.

    Your idea is good but needs a little modification.
    At some point, the lights on BOTH sides should be disconnected at the same time.
    Then the wiring should be disconnected one side at a time.

    Changing out a fuse box is a BIG, expensive job and should not be done until you can prove that the problem really is there.......not a guess.
     
  10. Pluggo

    Pluggo Senior Member

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    Look for corrosion and debris or out of place contacts in each socket and make sure the base of each bulb looks normal. It wouldn't hurt to individually test the bulbs. A burn mark on the base of a bulb is a sure sign that you had a short.
     
  11. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Change your cabin air filter.
     
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  12. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

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    You are thinking he has a bad ground on his air filter? Nothing the dealer can't handle...
     
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  13. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    I’m thinking mice...
     
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