Fuses/Electrical Problems

diaghilev · Newbie Joined: Dec 18, 2004 Posts: 1

I'm not good with the technical terminology here but this is basically what has happened:

First off, I drive a '90 Acura Legend

For the past year, the fuse controlling my tail lights would slip out of its holder. About every month or two, I'd have to take it out and reinsert it and it would work just fine after that (for another month or so).

About a month ago, though, the fuse completely burned out and even melted into part of the holder. So I removed it and a friend took a look at the thing that held the fuse. He tightened the thing holding the fuse and, scrapped some stuff out of the fuse slot (possibly metal from the blown fuse) and put a new fuse in and the thing worked, but only for about another week.

After a week, that new fuse blew as well. I can tell the thing that holds the fuse is not aligned right, it looks burnt out (don't know how else to describe it), and I believe I need a new slot (or whatever you call it) for that particular fuse.

Another friend told me the other day I probably needed a new pigtail and that it wouldn't be that difficult to put in. I called an electrical auto service place today and they said it would cost $50 just to look at the problem; which kinda sounds like a load of bull because it's kinda clear what the problem is. That slot (or whatever the proper term for it is) that controls the tail lights just doesn't work properly and needs to be replaced somehow.

My question is, does anyone know what exactly I would have to replace in order to do this? My fusebox is located next to driver's side door under the dash. Would there be any easy fix or do I have to replace the whole fusebox or what?