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[Grimble]

Hi y'all

Relief & good news to report    

I've put this as a new thread as my original (Instrument circuit fuse keeps blowing http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1194358402 ) seems to have gone cold.

After removing the alternator, getting it checked - confirmed ok, and refitting, it was back to square one.

Decided to make close inspection of main fuse panel (behind drop-down flap under steering column).
Removed black plastic panel holding all the small 2-pin fuses, carefully turned it round as far as poss. & checked for loose wires/connections. ALL OK.
Turned back round to refit and noticed three empty fuse positions with terminal connections & marked yellow (20A) (All other empty positions had no terminals).
Secured fuse panel in place, fitted new 20A fuse in each slot and then new 15A (blue) fuse in slot 15, the one which has been the cause of all the trouble  
Turned ignition with some trepidation - dash lights came on as norm. & fuel gauge moved from empty  
Started engine ok, all dash warning lights went off, including battery warning light, and ALL electrics worked  
Left engine running for a while and engine cooling fan kicked in - Vwalla!

Those 3 20A fuses must have been absent for the last 4 years yet this is the first blown fuse I've ever had with this car. Still don't know why it happened after all this time and the problem was resolved more by chance than anything else. Still, it is sorted and I'm a happy Grimble again.

Thanks to everyone who contributed. No doubt I'll be back with another question before too long.  

Cheers & best wishes

[Marks DTM Calib]

Keep an eye on it.....and please tell us which fuses the three where.

It might be that in moving the fuse holder you disturbed a short circuit somewhere an its not not shorting out....

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

Question is... why were the fuses removed?

[Grimble]

Hi again, so soon  

The title is now inacurate!

Just looked at the fuse panel again to answer Marks question:- No. 16 (dipped beam, which has been working ok) to the right of No. 15, the problem fuse; No. 27 (levelling, which I don't have) immediately above No. 15; & No. 29 (don't know what it's for but the symbol looks like a silencer with a balloon on the right-hand end?).

Anyway, I reset the time & date, switched off then on again and the battery warning light was back on and the instruments at zero again. Damn it  

I checked the fuse panel & No. 15 had blown again, all the others were ok. Back to the drawing board.

Your caution may be right Mark. I'll have to check the back of the fuse panel again much more carefully, but it will have to wait 'til tomorrow now, I've had enough.  

Let you know how it goes.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Pop the instrument panel out and check for trapped wires whilst you are at it.

[Marks DTM Calib]

No. 16 - Front Fog lamps (which I doubt you have)
No. 15 - Loads of stuff!
No. 27 - Automatic leveling (agin you wont have this)
No. 29 - constant current for weekend pikey wagon/trailer (towbar feed which again you  might not have)

[Grimble]

Hi Mark

Thanks for your suggestions & info.

I don't have front fogs, auto leveling or tow bar so I suppose might as well take the 3 20A fuses out again?

If No. 15 is for 'loads of stuff' is 15A the correct fuse size?

Any tricks for 'popping' the instrument panel out & back in, e.g. a 'How to' on the forum?

Is there a simple piece of kit for ckecking circuit integrity/continuity at each fuse position?

Will try the above in the morning & post findings.

Thanks again.

[Grimble]

Hi Guys

Sorry it's been a few days since the last update, I got a bit fed up with the lack of progress and my enthusiasm went a bit flat  

I followed thro' all the various suggestions but only found 3 blown bulbs at the back of the instrument panel. No sign of shorting, blackening, melting, smell of burning on the fuse panel or any visible wires  :-/

Spent some time yesterday trying to trace thro' wiring and connectors in the engine compartment. Went back to it this morning and, after about one and a half hours - [size=20]eureka[/size]

Found a broken earth wire which seems to have been trapped by a securing clip. It was concealed by some perishing insulation tape around a small bundle of cables and led to a 6-pin plastic connector secured below the battery shelf. Soldered in a new piece of cable, taped it up, plugged it back in, new 15A fuse in No. 15, turned ignition key and ........

the clouds cleared, the sky was blue, the sun shone, the birds struck up a triumphal chorus, wifey hugged & kissed me and the grandchildren clapped and cheered. All was well with the world.
And the new 15A fuse? .......... [size=16]IT DID'NT BLOW[/size] [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif] [smiley=vrolijk_26.gif] [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif] [smiley=vrolijk_26.gif] [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]

Reassembled everything, checked all was working, and went for a spin. All is AOK.

Thanks for all the help, advice, info and encouragement. I really luv u guys  

[davlad22]

Haha! Result! What a feeling  























[size=48]
!!!!!!!!!!!!!BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!![/size]