eh? fuse constantly blowing

9o9o · 10-21-2009, 09:49 PM

Installed sound system and everything was fine for bout a month and now... a 10amp fuse that controls my interior lighting and tail lights is constantly blowing on me,
I dont even have to turn on the car to get it to blow. checked all the wiring from the lights and everything and im thinkin its my stereo but y would it suddenly happen now.

I did however leave my lights on the other day and had the car jump started, could this of caused the constant blow?

Devilsword · 10-23-2009, 12:47 AM

Did you splice into any 12volt power source for your System? i know some amps want you to tap into a 12v source that is only on the the car is. Most of the time people f this up and cut into the fuel pump, it over loads the circuit and pop goes the fuse and the car is dead. though most people don't now that most head unit have a hot just for that.

fordem · 10-23-2009, 04:20 PM

Installed a sound system and now, a few months later you have an intermittent fuse blowing issue on the interior lights.

Well - there's usually a lead in the stock harness that feeds the factory stereo(radio) that includes a lighting connection - it's normally used to either power backlighting on a radio that doesn't have an illuminated display - or - to dim the display when the lights are turned on.

I'm going to guess that you pinched this wire when installing the stereo and after a few weeks of chafing, you've worn the insulation away and now have a bare spot that occasionally shorts to ground, and clears the fuse.

9o9o · 10-24-2009, 11:54 PM

Took the headunit out and had a look and no bare wires in there anywhere.

I crouched near the fuse box and put a fuse in and watched it as i switched on the lights and instant boom of the fuse.

Going to try take out the bulbs of each light and see how that goes, if this doesnt work. Is there other suggestions?

Want to try work it out myself before paying heaps for it to be fixed

Lord_Platypus · 10-26-2009, 08:46 PM

I have almost exactly the same problem!

I took the car to a shop, and they found two loose ground wires. Its blown once since then but has been okay for a while. I too replaced the head unit a few months ago but hadn't thought that it could be related.

If I learn anything new I'll let you know.

9o9o · 10-26-2009, 09:01 PM

cheers m8, would b a HUGE help.

I havent tken the bulbs out n tried yet havent had time haha been avoiding night driving lol

But yeah i didnt see any loose wires in there where i took the lights off

Lord_Platypus · 11-03-2009, 03:19 PM

The loose wires weren't by the lights. The first one was somewhere under the dash, the shop I took the car to had to remove the steering wheel column to get at it, or something like that. I didn't witness the actual repairs. I don't know where the second wire was cause I didn't have time to take the car in myself, traded with a friend and he took it in.

Anyway thats all I know. If I learn anything else I'll post it.

double trouble · 11-03-2009, 07:19 PM

loose grounds do not cause dead shorts.just dead lights. pull the bulbs. leave all the bulbs out and try it .if not check the sockets for rust,then clean and lube. check the sockets for bent tabs , i the bulb is causing it replace the bulbs because they short out sometimes, if not then check behind the sockets for bare spots in wires. next check behind the switch for wires touching too.
do you know how to use a continuity tester. you might want to learn. that is next. cheap ,but effective.