Gauges dont work. Blowing same fuse...WTF!

[Imprezademics]

So my gauge cluster is not working all of a sudden... still lights up but very dim. My turn signal, power windows and horn also dont work. I found that it was a fuse inside the cars fuse box pictured below (bottom right "Turn back srs lamp") that blew. The first time i changed it... started up the car and everything was back to normal. Maybe 2 minutes later, i noticed the gauge cluster wasnt working again. Checked the fuse and it was blown. From there on out it blew every time i turned the ignition key.

Im almost home and start to notice the volume in my radio start to fade and come back on. Park my car, turn it off. Try to turn it back on and it just clicks multiple times. Thought it was the alternator, bought a new one and still nothing so i put the old alt. back on. Swap batteries with my GF's car and the car starts up but the gauge cluster still doesnt work and keeps blowing that same fuse. So now i know i need a battery being that my battery didnt even jump start. I checked for bare wires in my stereo system and nothing... Disconnected the entire sub and amp from my battery and headunit and still blowing out that same fuse. So im stumped... I have not changed any of the battery cables or alt. cables at all. My car is a 2000 RS with a 2004 WRX swap so i do not know when was the last time any of the battery cables or grounding cables were changed. ANY help or advice will be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks!

Willie

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[piekarski17]

did you install any gauges that are tapped into your electrical system? If so, where did you tap for the power?

recheck all of your wires in your audio setup and look very carefully at your alternator/battery cables.

[Imprezademics]

All i have is the stock gauge cluster. Dont have any other gauges installed yet. I'll check the battery and alternator cables tomorrow. I may just replace them for the heck of it. Keep the suggestions coming PLEASE!

[Mulder]

Who did the wiring for your swap? The problem may be in there someplace, there's a lot of cutting and splicing done in the harnesses.

[Imprezademics]

Thats it? No one else?

[2slofouru]

Check the places where the harnesses were spliced, there could be exposed wires touching the body of the car and grounding out, causing the fuse to pop. If its been working fine for a while after the swap, that would be my guess, unless you have a bad dash bulb shorting the circuit, or are using the radio illumination wire to ground the radio.

[Imprezademics]

The swap was done back in August 2006. Everything has been fine till now. I'll check the bulbs and the wiring to the gauge cluster. Thanks!

Willie

Keep the suggestions coming PLEASE!

[Cougar4]

After looking at my data it looks like you are the lucky winner (just kidding). The data shows that fuse #18 goes to at least 13 different places and has more circuits on it than any other fuse. The wire color going to the various circuits is green/black.

In order to hunt down this curprit I would recommend you replace the fuse with a brake light bulb either in a socket or with some wires soldered on to it. You could solder the ends to a blown fuse to make connection to the fuse contacts. The light will glow from the current going to the short but the light limits the current so no damage occurs to the wiring. Start disconnecting connectors that have the grn/blk wire on them and when the short is disconnected the light will dim or go out.

Here is a list of places that the fuse ties to:
Back-up light sw, inhibitor sw, check connector, combination meter, daytime running light-(control module, hi-beam relay, and running light relay), hazard switch, key warning module, power window an sunroof relay, vehicle speed sensor(M/T), keyless entry control module, and A/C main fan relay.

I would not suspect the relay circuits, first off at least, as the problem. If any of these areas have been changed from the factory wiring then I would look at those first.

[Imprezademics]

OMFG! You have GOT to be kidding me. I dont know jack about wiring. Would this cause the battery to drain?

[Cougar4]

Originally Posted by Imprezademics

OMFG! You have GOT to be kidding me. I dont know jack about wiring. Would this cause the battery to drain?

A battery drain is different than a short circuit. If you are having a drain problem then it appears another problem is happening besides the short. A short blows the fuse so no current can flow through the circuit. A current drain problem lets the current flow since the current draw is low enough to not blow the fuse.

To find the circuit area a parasitic drain is occurring in just place a brake light bulb in the power circuit. This done by removing the ground lead from the battery and then connect the leads of say a brake light bulb between the negative post of the battery and the ground lead. The current draw of the drain will make the light glow. One thing to be sure of when you do this test is to make sure that nothing is on when you make the test. Like the car would be when parked. Watching the light, pull one fuse at a time and see if the light glow changes. When you pull the right fuse that the drain is tied to the light glow less or go out. Keep in mind that some current drain is normal. Anything more than 80 milliamps of drain should be looked at for a problem.

Working with electricity is really pretty easy once you understand a few things so don't feel intimidated. In order for current to flow in a circuit there must be a complete path for it to flow in.