Parker Gen

Yeah, I have an issue, I think I know the problem, but want some more brains.

I have removed the OEM headunit, than the 15A fuse to the cig lighter blew while driving. I than taped up all the wires that went into the headunit with electrical tape on each end. Than today the new 15A fuse blew again! Now I don't want to go through all my fuses for nothing.

I believe it could be because the earth wire ??? that should go to the OEM unit isn't being earthed anymore? Is that plausible? I'll take a pic if needed, but which wire is to be earthed? I'm thinking it could be the reason for shorting out the fuse again.

mmatheny

Only way that fuse will blow is if the +12v is hitting anything resembling a ground. Not having a ground wire (what you call an earth wire down under!) grounded will not blow the fuse. If that fuse is ONLY for the radio, and you don't have the radio installed, just leave it blown until you put it or a replacement back in.

Parker Gen

I'm not putting a replacement in though, I'm using the dash for gauges...
I'm wondering, if it's the cig lighter fuse that is blowing, is the problem at the cig lighter? Because I did tape off all the wires from the OEM head-unit. I didn't tape off the light wire from the cig lighter connection, maybe that's the problem, I totally forgot about that one.
Plausable?

mmatheny

On my '01, the cig lighter fuse ALSO controls the air bag system (what dumbass engineered that!)

CUMan

When working in the radio-AC control area on these cars, you have to remove the ash tray-lighter assembly. When doing this, it is very easy to twist the interior components of the lighter to a point where the 12 volts positive connector is making contact with ground. This will blow the fuse.

I went through this when connecting XM satellite radio to my sound system.

Make sure there is a gap between positive and negative.

Parker Gen

I believe it was the cig lighter positive and negative wires that were accidently touching the body of the car, and hence blowing it. Problem solved now. Now I have to fibreglass a new console.

mmatheny

Good catch, CUMan!