Can Water Short out/Blow a fuse?

[GabrielGoes]

the other night i had a blast driving home in the rain with no lights at all, i was wondering if water could be the cause of my fuse constantly blowing out? maybe water was carrying the voltage across to other contact points and shorting the circuit out? i ask this because i went over EVERYTHING and it didnt work.. this morning i threw in a fuse and it didnt blow.. everything was running like clockwork? my only guess is water..

[OldVet66]

Not water, but other things mixing with water. You most likely have corrosion somewhere that is creating a short when wet, like in a switch or wiring connections. Look for a damaged section in the harness wrapping also.

[André]

An open wire to cause short is more obvius than water to me. Check your wiring for bad connection or damaged wire unless the problem will occured again.
JKust my 2 cents.

Good luck.

André

[GabrielGoes]

im guessing my switches are going bad again... i've been in there quite a few times i forgot to check this time... how do u guys reccomend soldering the switches? they can seriously be a huge PIA !!!!!!!!!!! i usually put some of the rosin core lead on the soldering tip and than drop it on, than proceed to solder the wire on the drop i just made... i dont think theres a better way is there?

[refeicul]

soldering the connections sounds ok if its an old switch you may need a little extra rosin flux to help make the connection. Whats usually impregnated in the solder might not be enough for a old dirty connection. Just make sure your joints are shiny. the other plus is that you know those connections will be solid and ya dont have to go back over them as much ++ only down side is if there is a faulty part

what you could do and this is just a suggestion. you could affix a small section of wire with solder and the other with a insulated or shrouded spade connector. just in case you have to do a replacement ya dont have to desolder anything

cheers

[Steve]

You can try spraying the switches to clean them. One of the best is contact cleaner at Radio Shack.

If you merely suspect moisture in there, spray some WD-40 in there and work the switches forth and back.

By the way, to solder properly, you can not simply drop some solder on the contact, then heat it and put the wire in the blob. You really need to make sure it's a clean, SHINY contact area, make your wire connection secure, then either apply a bit of flux or use rosin-core solder, heat it until the solder flows and covers the connection. Solder is not supposed to be the "glue" that holds the connection together. It is actually meant to cover the connection to keep it from oxidizing.

.

[refeicul]

to back up what steve said heres a link with soldering tips n tricks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_NU2ruzyc4

[GabrielGoes]

today i went to work on the bike forgot my outfit, went back home with the fuse blown and everything ( bike worked on teh way out but i was rolling hte dice when i decided to ride it because it was just so nice out..-i know im an idiot) i was finally sick and tired when i was in the garage to park the bike ready to take the car..i was really upset because i wanted to ride it home from work (dark out).. so after the previous days and days of unsucessful searching i was like CRAP SOMEDAYS IT WORKS SOMEDAYS IT DONT. think of it what you will but i honestly said "God, i cannot do this anymore, YOU must show me and give me the knowledge to fix this problem.. THE BIKE IS KILLING ME!!!" 30 seconds later i saw a very small puff of smoke when i turned the key on and followed it to underneath the key switch.. where the 4 wires are 2 of them were melted together touching. i had a meltdown a few months ago and this wire connectoin held off untill recently.. split up the two melted wires and electrical taped em separately.. This was absolutely the last spot to check... oh marone a mi! the bike runs mint

[refeicul]

hey man its always the last place you look right?? lmfao well its running..
just be careful man the snow is melting wet roads ya know better be safe than sorry we all lost enough brothers out there... pist but friday will be warmer than today was