Headlights died last night

[alexwolf1216]

Fun drive last night. I took the car to a photo booth I was working out in the country and on the way home my low beams died. I was driving and all of a sudden it got dark. Running lights still work and I just drove home on the high beams. I'm not sure where to start but maybe fuses.

[DMCMW Dave]

High and low are on separate relays and fuses. Start there. I'll bet the fuse socket melted.

[Domi]

I had the same problem a few months ago.
It was just a malfunction of the relay. Clean the connection with some spray and everything was fine.
Hope it will be the same for you.

[alexwolf1216]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/08/31/21f9581f4040f4c4410ddd2c9fd1427f.jpg

Ding ding! Dave wins. What the heck do I do now

[Domi]

Wow, it's worst than I though :(
Maybe it will be a good idea to change the whole fusebox in a near future to avoid any more damage?

[Bitsyncmaster]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/08/31/21f9581f4040f4c4410ddd2c9fd1427f.jpg

That is a very common fuse that melts. I see you used grease on your fuses. I'm still not convinced grease is a good thing on electrical connections but power companys use it often with power line work.

[AugustneverEnds]

Have to agree with Domi, best option is to change out the fuse block. Short term you could use a fuse extender to get the heat away from your fuse.

One of these:

http://specialtauto.com/delorean-parts/images/fuseblockholders.jpg

[DMC5180]

Fuel Pump/lambda Fuse 7 middle Top (melted) is the Classic scenario. Tip: check the Wire going to this fuse. The HEAT can induce additional resistance of the wire near the terminals. I replaced 1 foot OLD wire with fresh. No heat issues since (10 years)

Low Beam Fuse 14 RH #2 from top appears to OKAY (unless it is Blown)

High beam Fuse 15 RH #3 from top appears to show signed of Heat distortion.


Replace the Fuse Box. The New terminals are far superior than the OE ones. The Short term fix is a remote fuse holder.

[alexwolf1216]

replacing the box is prob what I'll do. I don't have a lot of room, how is this accomplished

[DMC5180]

replacing the box is prob what I'll do. I don't have a lot of room, how is this accomplished


There are 4 retaining clips that hold the Box in place. Carefully pry the plastic slots open in the fuse box. Once loose you can lift the box up and turn it over. The NEW Fuse box will come with clear pictures to show the steps. It's tedious job but well worth the effort. Another trick I did was to remove the Passenger seat for better access. Four 13MM socket (M8 ) nuts under the car. Then you can kneel in the open area to work on things. When removing the seat slide it forward enough so you can see the Rear Track ends. This will make reinstalling it a little easier when the time comes.

[alexwolf1216]

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/08/31/eb0231829da0fb22628a441f6d7e8588.jpg
Been a busy day. Did all my console leds, rebuilt my mode switch and installing a new stereo. my passenger carpet is wet so I'm assuming I have assuming plugged drain line.


I have the box loose, but it only moves an inch or two. This doesn't sound like fun.

[jawn101]

I wrote a pretty lengthy and photo heavy how-to on the topic a while back.... http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?1070-How-to-Replace-fuse-block

[DMCMW Dave]

Not as bad as it looks. Main things - do one socket at a time and buy a good crimper tool made for double crimps, not the basic one in the electrical department at Home Depot.

[David T]

Not as bad as it looks. Main things - do one socket at a time and buy a good crimper tool made for double crimps, not the basic one in the electrical department at Home Depot.

Yes, try not to mix up the wires. Recently one owner had fuse problems but sometime in the past the fuseblock was replaced and all of the wires were mixed up so no one knew which fuse was for what. Dangerous since you could put the wrong size fuse in the wrong circuit! #7 is the most commonly melted out fuse.

[alexwolf1216]

Not as bad as it looks. Main things - do one socket at a time and buy a good crimper tool made for double crimps, not the basic one in the electrical department at Home Depot.

This is my crimper, will it work?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002STTSY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I havent soldered before, which makes me nervous. I guess its time to learn.

[DMCMW Dave]

This is my crimper, will it work?

---

I havent soldered before, which makes me nervous. I guess its time to learn.

I prefer one that looks like this.

http://www.amazon.com/GM-Delphi-Weatherpack-Crimper-Tool/dp/B005K006QS/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1409540906&sr=1-2&keywords=weatherpack+crimper

You should not need to solder.

[djdogbone]

Is it totally necessary to remove the passenger seat to replace the fuse box. Dave knows I fried a wire and melted a fuse...it's going to need replacing in my car too.

[Bitsyncmaster]

This is my crimper, will it work?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002STTSY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I havent soldered before, which makes me nervous. I guess its time to learn.

It looks like that crimper has the wrong "jaws" in the photo. I have that crimper but I bought the full set of "jaws" with mine.

http://www.amazon.com/Tool-Aid-18920-Ratcheting-Terminal/dp/B0002STTTI/ref=pd_sbs_auto_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=1BD1WBQTTHN3XME4F96D

The full set works very well. I only use two sets of jaws, the open barrel type and the closed (for non insulated butt connectors).

[DMC5180]

Is it totally necessary to remove the passenger seat to replace the fuse box. Dave knows I fried a wire and melted a fuse...it's going to need replacing in my car too.

No, but's it's a real ergonomic backache If you don't. With the seat you can figure out the most comfortable position to put yourself in. It's a about 2 hour job start to finish assuming all goes well and you factor in getting out and stretching. I'm sure someone will say they did it 30 minutes. (Well, good for them) I'm just saying you will need to take your time and everything should be fine.

[GS450-Junkie]

So is the fuse box from DMCH new and improved in any way or is it just NOS ? (and likely to melt all over again)...I need to do this as well.

[Bitsyncmaster]

So is the fuse box from DMCH new and improved in any way or is it just NOS ? (and likely to melt all over again)...I need to do this as well.

It is a new "box" but looks and fits like NOS. The big thing is the fuse socket pins are very high quality with much higher spring tension.

[alexwolf1216]

Would the melt cause an idle surge? I built a little jumper and now the idle is hunting a bit. It was pretty rock solid before.

[Kukem]

It is interesting to see that a number of us have had fuses melt recently. My high beams melted almost 3 weeks ago. They still work though as the terminals melted together. :S I checked the box and there is no power unless the switch is on, so I am only using the car in the day for now. The fuse box is checked every few days now. I will need to do this too soon. Joy.

[DMC5180]

It is interesting to see that a number of us have had fuses melt recently. My high beams melted almost 3 weeks ago. They still work though as the terminals melted together. :S I checked the box and there is no power unless the switch is on, so I am only using the car in the day for now. The fuse box is checked every few days now. I will need to do this too soon. Joy.

Not really, It's a 33 year Old car that is known to have issues with those circuits.

A real interesting Question would be, has anyone had a Melted fuse since Replacing there Fuse box? Replacement Boxes and terminals have been available and in use at least 8-10 years now. I did mine way back in the beginning when they became available. ZERO heat issues since.

[DMCMW Dave]

My car still has the original box and no melting. But I do maintain/change the fuses from time to time.

[DMC5180]

My car still has the original box and no melting. But I do maintain/change the fuses from time to time.

Sure there's always the exception to the norm. i.e. Nightflyer and his 33 yr old fuses too. Do you do this with your BMW or SHOP VAN as a general Maintenance Practice? Just curious :biggrin: Yes I know there not 33 yrs old.

[DMCMW Dave]

Do you do this with your BMW or SHOP VAN as a general Maintenance Practice? Just curious :biggrin: Yes I know there not 33 yrs old.

Not at this point. But they don't have the battery ventilated into the fuse box either! It seems to be a uniquely DeLorean maintenance item. Somehow I don't think either of them will still be on the road 33 years from now. But I probably won't either. :mad1:

Actually installing a BMW-type battery into a DeLorean would cure a lot of ills, but I don't think they make one that will fit (it is a more-or-less normal wet acid battery, but sealed other than a tightly connected vent hose that runs outside the car.

[Domi]

I wrote a pretty lengthy and photo heavy how-to on the topic a while back.... http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?1070-How-to-Replace-fuse-block

Nice how to :thumbup:
I have a few others pictures if it can be of any help:
http://dmctalk.org/album.php?albumid=49

[djdogbone]

My fuse melting occurred AFTER a fuse swap but the connection was bad because it looked as though it had melted before.

My melting caused a wire to burn up all the way to the engine bay. I'm going to replace the wire but it looks like I'm going to need to jump it until I put in a new fuse box. I need those reverse lights working.

[alexwolf1216]

I prefer one that looks like this.

http://www.amazon.com/GM-Delphi-Weatherpack-Crimper-Tool/dp/B005K006QS/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1409540906&sr=1-2&keywords=weatherpack+crimper

You should not need to solder.

http://www.amazon.com/Tool-Aid-18930-Ratcheting-Weatherpack/dp/B000K1CFXO/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1409671827&sr=1-1&keywords=weatherpack+crimper

Winner due to prime