BAT FUSE(8) keeps blowin' (Page 1/1)
TheDigitalAlchemist SEP 03, 05:06 PM
Had some work done. Noticed the horn wasn't workin'. Lady made a right turn from the left lane. ooof. (good luck, everybody else!!!)

Cig lighter too. Radio was, though. and interior lights. Checked the fuses and fuse 8 (20) was blown.

Swapped with a new one and that one blew immediately.

Things I can check before bringin' it back to the shop?

86 SE V6 Auto.

Thanks!


[This message has been edited by TheDigitalAlchemist (edited 09-03-2024).]

armos SEP 03, 07:52 PM
Oddly, the service manual lists it as a 25A fuse but the diagram you posted shows 20A. I imagine most people are running what it says on the fuse box, so if it says 20A that should be enough.



Look in the lighter and see if anything got dropped into it. Fish it out and try again.

If you don't see anything there, then start unplugging circuits to narrow down what's blowing the fuse.
Open up the console and unplug the lighter socket.

Check the "courtesy" lamps. I think those are the ones by your feet.
It's hard to imagine what would happen there to cause a short - the bulbs should burn out, not leave a short. But unplug them anyway, make sure nothing weird is stuck into the bulb sockets, and check that the sockets aren't mangled.

Also try unplugging the radio. This fuse feeds the radio's constant power (ie the "clock"). I had a factory 84 radio develop a minor short here - not enough to blow a fuse though, it was just draining my battery.
While you're in there, check the radio wiring. If an aftermarket radio has ever been installed, be sure the wiring is in good condition and nothing is touching that shouldn't be. If there's an adapter harness installed, unplug it from the factory harness.


The only thing left to unplug then should be the horn circuit. To cut off the whole thing, disconnect the horn relay from the Orange wire - but I don't know how accessible it is.


If you unplug everything that appears to be connected to that circuit and the fuse still blows, then you can start worrying about a hidden wiring failure. But there's probably a component somewhere responsible, and unplugging things will narrow down what it is.
TheDigitalAlchemist SEP 04, 08:07 AM
Thanks for the reply and suggestions, I’ll letcha know how things go.

[This message has been edited by TheDigitalAlchemist (edited 09-04-2024).]