Fuse keeps blowing - how to best try to solve this?

[johnnythespider]

Hi
I have an intermittent fuse issue caused by either one of my dashboard displays / lights or my left hand front / rear side lights. Basically the 10A fuse number 7/8is the one that is blowing. I originally thought this was a poor earth in the rear light cluster. Have since sorted both LH and RH side (as per previous post).
I replace the fuse but it does not immediately blow so is there a way / procedure for identifying exactly what is causing it to blow. Do I disconnect each dash board dial / display (temp gauge / volts / fuel / speedo / rev counter / oil pressure) in turn or is there likely to be an offending item to start with?

If anyone has a few suggestions or things I can note that would be helpful. Not even sure if it is not to do with the fuse board or connectors moving when going over a speed bump - but don't wish to try to replicate this in order to find the fault.

Brake lights are working by the way.

Here is the circuit diagram I am looking at + some dash board photos.

LH Wiring Loom.jpeg20140129_205925.jpg

Cheers Jonathan

[GDPR]

Do you have/was there a towbar fitted? I had exactly that fault and it was nipped towbar wiring under the boot board - took me forever to find as I was disconnecting auto selector lights, dash lamps and ciggy lighter lamp and each side/cruise lamp in turn before I pulled up the boot board and saw it...

[johnnythespider]

No towbar fitted, well not time I last looked anyhow.

I do have a flickering oil lamp dashboard light from time to time. But not sure that this is on the same loom though. If I take the dash board out, and start to poke around, I sometime catch the wiring and the oil warning light goes out. It comes back on again though.
I have had the dimmer out and looked at etc. Checked all the wiring. I must be missing something obvious.

[GDPR]

I'm assuming your car wasn't an auto originally and the selector light wire is flapping about under the console...

[Escape]

When I was searching for a short, I replaced the fuse with a lamp (after blowing several fuses without getting any closer to a solution). A 3W tube as in the footwell lights is an exact fit.
If there is a short somewhere in the circuit, the lamp will light up. To detect a very small current drain, you can put a voltmeter across the lamp to detect any voltage drop to small to make the lamp glow. Next disconnect all the components in the circuit one by one (in your case, take out light bulbs and/or connectors) until the lamp goes out. If it stays on, the short is in one of the feed wires, so you have to try and isolate them. I think there are 2 spade connectors on the fuse holder, that will already eliminate half of the circuit. Next you need to trace the wiring, disconnecting any connectors you come across to further narrow it down.
Good luck, I know this can be very frustrating!

Filip

[staginhiding]

I'm assuming your car wasn't an auto originally and the selector light wire is flapping about under the console...

This is Saxplayers old car,so I'm guessing quite a bit of modified wiring.. I expect it has been done properly and there is a simple fix to be had..

Sam

[johnnythespider]

Hi Sam
It's only had a RV8 efi swap out. Still retains most the original wiring loom associated with lights etc, which would include the bit I am having an issue with. If it was blowing fuses related to the ECU, then that would cause a whole other can of worms to solve - but thankfully that element is robust enough.
I think Filips suggestion is a good idea and will follow up on this. Just a minor frustration really, which will eventually work itself out.
thanks