Re: Dead short

Posted by HH56 On 2023/4/19 12:23:39

There are so many places a short could have developed.

If it is a heavy spark with key off, door closed, and absolutely nothing else turned on one suggestion is disconnect the ARM wire from the regulator and see if you still have the short. If the cut out relay contacts welded closed that would try to put a large current thru the generator.

There are only a few always on items without a breaker, one feed goes to the headlight switch and the front cigar lighter. The body feed fuse or breaker also is constant on and powers rear cigar lighters and sends power to courtesy and in some cars, the brake and trunk lights.

Unless a wire is cut or a chunk of insulation fell off before a fuse or CB, almost any other short and spark may only show if something was on. There could be a circuit breaker cycling too. When there is a short, most Packard breakers trip, stay off for a few seconds, turn back on and trip again. That cycle repeats until the short is fixed or the breaker finally fails.

Trunk lights are known for staying on as are brake lights if the switch fails. Cigar lighters have also been known to stay on and cause issues. If not one of those, am afraid it is going to be a process of elimination.