'77 Seville Electrical

[mechanic80]

I'm not exactly sure HOW I did it, I only know THAT I did it (I think.)  I posted earlier about an electrical issue that seems common to my series Seville where the dome light circuit burns fuses, the electric locks become inoperative and the twilight sentinel is affected.  Here's how I started:  Using a circuit tester, I got a light (short to ground) when bridging the dome circuit fuse.  I then removed all door courtesy lamps and the roof (dome) bulbs and all lighter inserts.   Still a short indicated by the bridged fuse glowing light.  I accidentally depressed the door jamb switch (only driver's door being opened at that time) and the light went out.  In the interim I fiddled with a poor ground on the dash cigar lighter lamp.  Using a "keeper" to hold the jamb switch, I replaced the two footwell bulbs and they DIDN'T light (GOOD).  I activated the lt ft door electric lock switch and a draw was indicated by the circuit tester bulb lighting.  At that point I installed a fuse and it didn't blow.  The door locks worked!  I installed each door courtesy lamp and tested each by actuating the lamps.  Inserted the trunk light bulb.  Things were working!
All is well with the circuits.  It's as if the sequential removal and installation of the bulbs had an effect.  I'm really not sure.
mechanic80

[bcroe]

I have had problems with cig lighters shorting/blowing fuses.  In some cases
they came apart, for a hard short.  In other cases, plugging in (my GPS) and
wiggling around the plug (for a better contact) caused a momentary short
that blew the fuse.  Now I just plug it straight in.  Bruce Roe