Constantly Blowing Meter Fuse
 

Hey guys. My '91 N/A Coupe is blowing the meter fuse everytime I put a new one in and turn the ignition. I've tried both using 10 and 15 amp (heard that a 15 would be a little more resiliant to things like this) fuses and get the same result each time. Any ideas to run by my way?

Probably have a short or crossed wire somewhere. Find it before you keep dumping more fuses in there.

Anything done to the car lately?

I could list all of the items fed by that fuse for an S4, don't know what if any differences there are in that circuit from S4 to S5, though...

Never ever use a higher value fuse than the factory spec. The factory spec is for the wiring.

You are protecting the wiring from burning and letting the genie escape by using the proper fuse value. If you put a 15 amp fuse in, you have allowed 5.5 extra amps to burn though and possibly cause a fire.

And I agree with wayne... what new things have you added recently???

Righto, Icemark, will stick to 10 amp only then.

I haven't done anything to it since the K&N cone I put on about 4 months ago but that wouldn't blow the meter fuse. Your guess is as good as mine.

No matter how many times we tell 'em, Mark, they still do it anyway...



I'll go get my book and list the items to check AS IF it were an S4- hopefully they'll all be the same...

well then I am assuming this the 91 non turbo manual tranny car in your sig???

If so, then you are looking for a short in one or more of the following:
gauge cluster,
back up lights,
supplimental electric cooling fan (if equipped)
clock/idiot lights
CPU
Cruise
power seat belt.

So do any of those have problems or are partially disconnected??

All righty. You need to isolate all of these circuits as well as you can (pull the plugs at the components if you can)...Then hook up each circuit/ component one at a time and turn the key on. The one that blows the fuse is your bad boy...

For starters, check out your back-up light switch on the tranny and the back-up lights and sockets. These guys seem to be the most likely cause for that fuse blowing...Disconnect the wiring from the switch at the tranny, then see if the fuse blows...

Other components on that circuit-

auto tranny control unit (if you got it)
alternator warning light relay, CPU, then on to the alt itself
ABS control unit (if you got it)
gauge cluster
warning lights panel (except clock)
CPU & buzzer
AAS control unit (if you got it)
theft deterrent control unit

Disconnect each of the above and keep trying fuses. Seems like a PITA, but you have to isolate a short to find it :)

Damn Mark, why didn't you say you'd list the stuff for him, lol?

EDIT- if Mark listed the S5 stuff, use his list. Mine's S4...

Yeah, S5 , factory manual tranny

He's all set, then. Just gotta find it now...

Hopefully he's got a stock of fuses. The 10 amp ones, anyway...

Aye, went down to the auto parts store today and got about 15 of them. This should be fun...

I respect what you have to say and think a lot of it is usefull but I really resent comments like this one. It's part of the reason I mainly stay out of the 2nd gen section and tend to avoid it. I was about to ask my region section for help instead of the 2nd gen section just to avoid BS like this. Just a pointer.

It is the '91 in my sig and no, I haven't had problems with any of those (don't have an e-fan or cruise control). Maybe I can just work some weasel magic and it'll work again... it's happened in the past.

First thing I would be looking at would be the reverse lights. Lot of those wires get messed up with any tranny or clutch work.

and you said:
I agree with wayne. This should be basic automotive 101, never ever change the value higher. I am sorry you feel you are slighted in here by waynes comments, but next time if you don't like the reply ignore it.
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