Panel Fuse keeps blowing. Need dimmer knob, Figured it out :) Options

[mgnt232]

So yesterday my panel fuse (7.5a) decided to blow. All i know thats powered by that is the gauge lights? which is alot more important than you'd think lol.
At first I thought it was my vent and handle lights, because I took the power from the cig lighter light, so everything would turn on with the lights and it has worked fine for months, but thought maybe a wire came loose or something. Searched for a couple hours tracing everywire, blowing a bunch of fuses, and eventually just unhooking all the extra lights from the power.
Still blew the fuse
Hooked the lights up to a direct power, they all turn on fine, so im pretty positive its not them
Is there anything else powered by this fuse? I cant imagine it just does the gauge lights but from what I can see it is... Anything common I should check?
I havent done any wiring in a few months so I dont understand why it would just start to blow?
Anyway to put direct power to the gauge lights? thanks a ton in advance

This post has been edited by mgnt232: Dec 9, 2010 - 9:05 AM

[jlive]

That's because you have short (two wires touching, or a power wire touching ground) somewhere between the fuse and what the fuse is suppose to protect, or you added something to the circuit and are now drawing too many amps. Its probably a wiring issue and not a part issue.

Do a continuity check between the fuse connector side that goes to the part and ground. If is just a couple ohms or less you have a short in your circuit to ground.

Or try repairing your wiring job so its back to factory conditions and see if that fixes it.

This post has been edited by jlive: Dec 8, 2010 - 3:14 PM

[mkernz22]

That's because you have short (two wires touching, or a power wire touching ground) somewhere between the fuse and what the fuse is suppose to protect, or you added something to the circuit and are now drawing too many amps. Its probably a wiring issue and not a part issue.

Do a continuity check between the fuse connector side that goes to the part and ground. If is just a couple ohms or less you have a short in your circuit to ground.

Or try repairing your wiring job so its back to factory conditions and see if that fixes it.

Searched for a couple hours tracing everywire, blowing a bunch of fuses, and eventually just unhooking all the extra lights from the power.
Still blew the fuse

Is there anything else powered by this fuse? I cant imagine it just does the gauge lights but from what I can see it is... Anything common I should check?
I havent done any wiring in a few months so I dont understand why it would just start to blow?
Anyway to put direct power to the gauge lights? thanks a ton in advance

If it's not the extra lights you have connected, then there could be something wrong with the gauge itself. Maybe some got messed up on the circuit board from all that bass lol
Check the back of the gauge and all the lights that are on/ in it and see if that works.
If not, I couldn't tell yah

[SupraKid]

Short

[mgnt232]

Im going to pull the gauges out tomorrow and see if I cant find how they are powered and just try a direct power to them.

I thought it was somthing I did as well, but every light i put in is powered by the cig lighter light, and nothing else. So disconnecting it from the only power and ground source, eliminates all possibilities there, imo. And I checked every single place i spliced for the lights I put in, and nothing is touching
oh well was hoping someone had some ideas, Ill just give it a go tomorrow with the gauges

Anyone have any idea if that fuse powers anything else?
thanks again

[mgnt232]

AHHH! i figured it out! I knew it wasnt anything i did!
The bass may have actually done it like mike said lol

Went out at 6 this morning and ripped out almost every possible interior piece, to not have to try and squeeze my hand in anywhere. Started probing wires re running everything and eventually came to the last thing i ever would have thought of because its never actually worked:(...
The dimmer knob is the short! Its never actually dimmed the lights, but has never caused it to short either so it randomly starting, I never thought of it.
Anyhow Im gonna need a new one, if anyone has one for cheap For now I just have a jumper wire

[Imawakeyo]

Hahaha I wish I'd seen this earlier. Mine did the exact same thing when I first bought the car, It would blow fuses and then none of my gauge lights would work. Had to drive from work to home with a flashlight handy because it would blow at night. Pick one up from the junkyard but be sure just to take the dimmer knob or they'll charge you for the whole plastic piece. Bout $5 tops.