Any auto electric gurus out there?

[FMCoug]

Just picked up a 1998 Chevy Express Conversion van. There is a short in the circuit that controls the power door locks. When I try to replace the fuse, it immediately sparks and blows. I found a schematic and it appears the wire for that circuit goes to a junction where it branches into 7 or 8 branches. Having a heck of a time getting to it up in the dash though.

[FN Phat]

It sounds to me like it could be a bad relay.

[Shaka]

It sounds to me like it could be a bad relay.

Yup, that's where I'd start. Also getting behind the dash in a lot of vans is tough because the engine is mashed up into the passenger area.

I do love a good conversion van.

[SteelBlue]

Sounds to me like the flux capacitor. It's an easy fix if you have the correct manual. Also, I wouldn't rule out some sort of ball bearing problem. It's all ball bearings these days.

[pellegrino]

Sounds to me like the flux capacitor. It's an easy fix if you have the correct manual. Also, I wouldn't rule out some sort of ball bearing problem. It's all ball bearings these days.

yes, Doc Brown is the one I recommend.

[kccougar]

Start with the relay. If that's not it then you don't have much choice but to start tracing wires looking for a short. I had an electric gremlin in my last BMW that took me a couple years to figure out. Occasionally when I had the headlights on a particular fuse would blow and the passenger side parking lights and the instrument panel lights would go out. I kept thinking it was a short in the right rear taillight assembly and I went through boxes of fuses replacing one each time it happened (apparently almost at random). It didn't happen all that much so it was a long time before I seriously considered fixing it. Dropping a new fuse in each time was the cheap and easy fix.

Eventually, I thought I figured out that the fuse blew only when the headlights were on and I opened the drivers door. That led me to start looking for stripped wires or other short circuits.

I finally figured out that it was not the door causing the problem, but it was the seat. When I moved the drivers seat out of regular position, the fuse would blow the next time I turned on the lights. Also, it was my movement in the seat when i exited the car that was blowing the fuse, not the opening of my door.

One day I finally just pulled the drivers seat out of the car and underneath I found a bad wire connection. I fixed it and have not had a problem since.

I hate electrical problems.

[Pheidippides]

I usually just get rid of cars with electrical problems if I can't find a quick fix (like replacing a relay). Finding them can be really, really difficult.