Instrument & parking lights gone

[JF008]

Hi all, today I had the brilliant idea to install the voltmeter I have while I'm on the hunt for a set of 3 gauges... All was well until I unplugged everything i made to test the gauge to pass my wires where they would be hidden. I replug it all to find that everything on fuse number 10 is dead but the fuse is ok. I must have made a short and now it leaves me wondering what the f is going on and could this be fixed?

[Grrrmachine]

How do you know the fuse is ok? Have you swapped it?

If you've got a short, it'll be somewhere near where you were fiddling, obviously. Wiring diagrams are in the Wiki.

(I also have a pair of gauges for sale, not a set of three though )

[bmw9818]

what did you wire the voltmeter on? my plan is to use the live wire to the ignition red, and ground the other end...

[JF008]

I tapped into the red&grey wire by the light switch for the switched light and tapped into a random purple wire by the steering column for switched power. I grounded one ground to the extra lighter ground which already had a female spade connector and tapped the other one into a ground (brown) wire. All that using scotchlock type bits and spades connectors.

As for the fuse, I could tell by looking at it it was fine but still swapped it for a new one... twice.

The result of this is no parking lights, no brake lights and no instrument lights.

[bmw9818]

Did u use the correct size taps? You might of basically cut the wire if it was working before just retrace your steps remove the taps and check for damage, or pull out a volmeter and check continuity between the taps

[BenHar]

All that using scotchlock type bits

Spit!

Bloody horrible things.

Probably one of these is the problem.

Ben

[JF008]

Connections all made proper, I shorted the connectors moving the wires around as the power was left on... I read the fuse diagram wrong in my anger and did not realize I in fact blown 2 fuses no damage