The fuse to the interior lamps and the fuse to monitor panel/radio both blow when the battery is connected, via the disconnect switch even if the all the light switches are off and no buttons on the panel are pushed.What should be my next step to troubleshoot this?The van is under warranty and I have an appointment, but I'd like to learn something in the two weeks before they see me or maybe even fix it.TIA,Eric

You have a short to ground somewhere along the way. If it's under warranty you might not want to mess with it. Only way to find it is first isolate the wire that is shorting. With the battery disconnected remove the wires from the offending fuse at the panel. Using an Ohm meter you can check to see where there is a path to ground on one of those hot wires.Put one lead of the meter to a known ground and the other to the wires, one by one. When the Ohm meter registers a drop in resistance there is a circuit between that wire and ground (i.e.: a short). After you find the wire (or wires) with the short then you have to physically trace that wire(s) to find the short, probably frayed where it goes through a metal support somewhere.

Total agreement with Dennis MM.You don't want to make a boo-boo and leave evidence of tampering. Most of these places are strict about warranty conditions violations. A lot of troubleshooting leaves tattle-tale marks. Ask the service manager. "I want to learn".A component failureA wiring failureDownload a FREE PDF bookTHE 12-VOLT DOCTOR'S HANDBOOK. It does a great job explaining the basics and the material needed to do a job just like yours. It's about sailboats but electricity doesn't know the difference.

bulbs have to be removed or you will measure resistance of bulbs or what ever else is in the circuit. If a wire runs to several bulbs you would to remove bulbs then disconnect wires to isolate which area is shorting out. Could be as simple as a bad socket or as bad as a crushed wire inside a wall. I would let them work on it.

You guys seem to be unanimous in your opinion that I let the dealer fix this and I think you've convinced me. I've done all the visual checks of the wire that I can see but when they disappear into the looms, I'm lost. Thanks,Eric

Have you done recent modifications or upgrades and possibly shot a screw into a wire? Backtrack

Troubleshooting a short | Good Sam Community

22 Replies

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Oct 29, 2015
Total agreement with Dennis MM.

You don't want to make a boo-boo and leave evidence of tampering. Most of these places are strict about warranty conditions violations. A lot of troubleshooting leaves tattle-tale marks. Ask the service manager. "I want to learn".

A component failure

A wiring failure

Download a FREE PDF book

THE 12-VOLT DOCTOR'S HANDBOOK. It does a great job explaining the basics and the material needed to do a job just like yours. It's about sailboats but electricity doesn't know the difference.
Dennis_M_M
Explorer
Oct 29, 2015
You have a short to ground somewhere along the way. If it's under warranty you might not want to mess with it.

Only way to find it is first isolate the wire that is shorting. With the battery disconnected remove the wires from the offending fuse at the panel. Using an Ohm meter you can check to see where there is a path to ground on one of those hot wires.

Put one lead of the meter to a known ground and the other to the wires, one by one. When the Ohm meter registers a drop in resistance there is a circuit between that wire and ground (i.e.: a short). After you find the wire (or wires) with the short then you have to physically trace that wire(s) to find the short, probably frayed where it goes through a metal support somewhere.

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Troubleshooting a short

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