Crazy electrical problem, help

Help!

I had my center cup holders out tapping into a wire under there for an added aux power outlet triggered with the ignition seen here... (http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/audio-video/6111-added-auxiliary-power-outlet.html) and while I was connecting the wires I slipped and the hot wire touched a ground and sparked. I figured it probably just blew a fuse for the 400W power in the back cause that's supposedly what the blue/black wire is for. But after I got it hooked up and was going to search for the fuse I realized that lots of other things were inoperative... fog lights, HVAC controls (except for the recirculate), power windows, temp/compass, abs and parkbrake dash light remain lit, and headlights don't turn off with door open, and the aux power outlet I just installed (obviously haha). I pulled a few fuses for the items and didn't notice any of them being bad also.

What have I done!? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

Did you go through all the fuses....ones under the hood as well?

 

not all of them... could it be one of the breakers in there?

 

Its possible. Just play it safe and check all of the fuses cause you never know which one could have blown. That way you start with the simple stuff first like the fuses.

 

ok.. I'll go pull all of them and check. Seems odd that such an odd array of things were affected by that though, right?

 

Problem Solved... Thank you so much! ended up being a 10amp fuse in the inside box labeled IG1 No.2. Pretty crazy how so many unrelated things are affected by one small fuse. Makes sense now though... thanks again! I was really sweatin'

 

First lesson:

Always disconnect the battery when doing electrical work. Always! Next time you may not be so lucky and take out a ECU... $$$$$$$$$$$$

 

Glad to hear you got it fixed!!

 

I know right... I usually pretty good at that too. Don't know why I didn't this time.

 

ok... got another one for ya! I got everything squared away and it works wonderfully sitting in the driveway. Next day I go out to run some errands and the power to my sirius radio (plugged into the new aux power) kept cutting out. After about 10 minutes of driving and getting frustrated at the choppy radio I pinned it to the clutch. The power to the outlet was only lost if the clutch was in for a prolonged amount of time (starting out in 1st) and not lost on quicker shifts (2-6). Anyone have any idea what the deal is. I can't even imagine how these things are connected.

 

Did you check your ground connection? Make sure it's secure and has some nice bare metal to ground to.

 

Ground should be good.... it will stay on forever while just sitting or cruising. I also checked my splice and it seems to be very sound as well. It's as soon as I put the clutch to the floor for a few seconds that it cuts out. I had no idea these things were related.

 

Hmm... the only thing I can think of back there is the clutch sensor for the starter (not sure the technical name) and you did say that the outlet was triggered by the ignition. Still... That's a stretch...

 

yeah... its on the ignition. I couldn't even come up with that. Know of any other accessible hot with the ignition wires I could try? I feel like this issue is best left the way it is... haha.

 

I think the wires that go to the outlet in the bed cut out with the clutch.
Could be wrong.

 

well it looks like i'm confirming that now... haha. I figured it was just crazy coincidence or something. But then I played with it for 20 minutes and was getting the same results. Why would that be?? so you don't leave your toaster oven plugged in back there while you're driving?

 

Yeah I don't think they intended for the outlet to be used with the truck in motion. I did the same thing a few years ago hooking up my MP3 player. My truck doesn't have the outlet in the bed and there was an empty plug that had power to it so I used it with the same results.
Don't remember how I came to the conclusion that the plug was for the outlet but it made sense at the time.

 

well thanks for confirming I'm not crazy! Did you end up finding a better source to tap into then? Seems like there's not many accessible hot with the ignition wires to work with.

 

I used something up behind the clock I think. Wish I could be of more help but like I said, it's been years. I am sure someone on here has something written up about wires that can be used.

 

here ya go...

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...ng-find-hot-wire-under-my-center-console.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/6525-diy-wiring-after-market-lights.html#post63835