Blowing Fuse

[vettn71]

I know there's probably no good answer, but I'm trying to avoid looking at every single wire in the car. My CTSY (15A) fuswe on my C4 ZR-1 blows instantly when I put a fuse in. It had a 20A in it when I bought the car and the just started popping them. I have removed the radio and AC control head, pulled the lower right trim pad and the sill cover. Im pretty bummed, to say the least. What would be the best way to proceed from here? I was thinking of finding splice S241 and cut the wires loose to see when the fuese stop blowing. Hard on fuses, but would isolate the prolem (eventually). BTW, I am fairly savy with electrical, but not so much dc. I have a Fluke, also.

Jim

[LLC5]

Originally Posted by vettn71

I know there's probably no good answer, but I'm trying to avoid looking at every single wire in the car. My CTSY (15A) fuswe on my C4 ZR-1 blows instantly when I put a fuse in. It had a 20A in it when I bought the car and the just started popping them. I have removed the radio and AC control head, pulled the lower right trim pad and the sill cover. Im pretty bummed, to say the least. What would be the best way to proceed from here? I was thinking of finding splice S241 and cut the wires loose to see when the fuese stop blowing. Hard on fuses, but would isolate the prolem (eventually). BTW, I am fairly savy with electrical, but not so much dc. I have a Fluke, also.

Jim

Make sure that your cigerate lighter element and socket assembly aren't shorted. There is a 10a circuit breaker tool with clips on it that you can install in the fuse pins to help with chasing the short. At least your short is active, it's the intermittent ones that are a real PITA. Good luck with it.

[vettn71]

Hmmmmm! You mean I insert the trianagular tip of the fuse puller into the fuse sockets? Would there be a chance of burning the car down to the frame? What would be the best way of indentifying where the short is?

[LLC5]

Originally Posted by vettn71

Hmmmmm! You mean I insert the trianagular tip of the fuse puller into the fuse sockets? Would there be a chance of burning the car down to the frame? What would be the best way of indentifying where the short is?

The short detector tool has a circuit breaker (usually 10a, make sure) in it with 2 alligator clips on it to go into each side of the fuse pins. I always use a circuit breaker that is at least 5a lower rated than the fuse panel rating. You can also make your own with a circuit breaker from an auto parts store and soldering on 2 wires and clips that will attach to your fuse panel. NEVER over fuse a circuit or use too large of a circuit breaker rating when chasing a short (or when not, never over fuse for ANY reason), this cannot be over stated. As the breaker cycles (with and active short) you can disconnect circuits until the breaker stops cycling. The tool that I am talking about also comes with a gauge (simple needle that follows current flow) that tells you if you are on a live circuit. Hopefully you have an owners manual ot the FSM to tell you all the components that are on the circiut.

[vettn71]

Thanks for the idea on the circuit breaker. I'll see what the local car parts palces have. If they don't I can make one up

Thanks again

Jim

[LLC5]

Originally Posted by vettn71

Thanks for the idea on the circuit breaker. I'll see what the local car parts palces have. If they don't I can make one up

Thanks again

Jim

If you are making your own circuit breaker I would consider starting with a very small amerage rating. I have had a 10a breaker "blow" away low amperage shorts, turning them into a intermittent short which is very frustrating.