1993 MGM changed out headlight switch and receptacle

[Donal]

Changed out headlight switch and receptacle on my 1993 MGM. Turned out I had two of the wires switched.So I put the wires as they should be, initially using jumper wires to connect them, and everything worked as it should. I should mention that the exposed wires did move around a bit, contacting each other, etc. and sometimes throwing a spark.This morning , I removed the jumpers and spliced the wires together, and now I have no running lights, and maybe no dash lights(it's kinda hard to tell in daylight). So now I'm sorta trying to puzzle it out. Any ideas? Did maybe I short something out?

[sly]

ya might have blowed something up. The circuit breaker for the headlights sits on that switch IIRC and you have to change the switch to change that damn thing unless the replacement switches have it slotted into a fuse holder type thing. you might also check that the connectors stayed in place when you shoved it back together. Loose connectors cause all manner of ghosty issues.

[Donal]

Well, exchanged the headlight switch and still no park or tail lights, so the headlight switch apparently was not the problem. I switched the two wires, that had been backwards, and had park and tail lights- when I had my car door open. That was how it was before. Couldn't tell about the dash lights. So I put them back the way I had them. Near as I can tell, using the old connector as a guide, that's how they are supposed to be. But now I have no park or tail lights. I did get my ohm meter out and checked all the wires. One of the two questionable wires , I got no reaction from. It is the tan wire with the white line. I'm getting a headache from this stuff. Think I'll try to find my magic wand.

Don.

[miamibob]

Wiring diagram would help....

[Donal]

I agree. Know where I can find one?

Don.

[miamibob]

EBAY and other places have Electrical and Vacuum Books. Get the OEM ones as they are the most detailed. Chilton, etc would be useless. Bobby

[Donal]

Uh, problem solved. Blown fuse.

Don.

[sly]

doh!

though... like the silly cheap fixes.

[miamibob]

Assuming a short is not causing the fuse to go....guess we'll hear about it if that is so. Hope not, though!

[sly]

the "sparks" he talked about earlier probably caused the fuse to pop. If that's sorted... then there's no issue.