Electrical -fuse 23 shorting

[Contours]

Recently I noticed my reversing lights not working and I managed to pull the two wire loom through the centre console to check it and clean it up. Afterwards, I noticed my fuse 23 blown on checking the parking lights and my fog light fuse on the right hand side also blown. The parking lights were working perfectly previous to messing with the reverse light loom. I have a test light wired up between the battery positive and the fuse 23 feed circuit but I cannot find the short. The light switch is ok and on wiggling the wires in the console area the test light remains on showing the short. Also disconnecting the hazard switch and rear window defogger makes no difference or indeed disconnecting the rear lights ground. I am not sure what I could have disturbed in the console area or under the car to cause this. Is there an easier way of finding this short than pulling the car apart. Car is an 89 316i.

[fixedwheelnut]

Fuse 23 also does all the dash lights so I would remove the centre console again and check all the dash light wiring in that area around the electric window switches, ashtray illumination etc make sure none of the loom is trapped.

[Contours]

Thanks for that. As both parking lights work using the indicator park function, this eliminates the lights from the cause of the problem. May be carpet out time. It has to be getting the earth from somewhere so will start disconnecting these at the front under the glovebox for a start.

[fixedwheelnut]

Thanks for that. As both parking lights work using the indicator park function, this eliminates the lights from the cause of the problem. May be carpet out time. It has to be getting the earth from somewhere so will start disconnecting these at the front under the glovebox for a start.

I would start where you last worked, if you have trapped a wire under the centre console mounts it will be more likely shorting direct to the body work or touching something like the cigar lighter housing.

[Contours]

All was perfect until I started on the reverse light switch. I have removed the cluster and console but no result. The red/white wire which powers the interior lights is showing a continuity to ground which is blowing the fuse. They say that fuse 23 is one of the most difficult fixes as it supplies power to a number of things all of which are Nct/Mot failures. Hope to see an auto electric lad this week but he tells me he doesn't have a short finding probe so dont know how effective he will be in sorting the issue. Have half the interior out at this stage.