Hi,

I have a 1.4 LX Mk6 escort on an N plate.


It keeps blowing a 10amp fuse which supplies the sidelights and dashboard lights. Before I start the arse ache of pulling it all apart looking for wiring faults has anybody come across this before or have any ideas where to look?

Any help or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!

 

Does it blow the fuse immediately ?
If it does disconnect all the lights you can on that circuit, reconnect one at a time, it will pop the fuse when the dodgy one is connected.
It could be a dodgy bulb doing it but more likely to be a short to earth on a live wire, or maybe even water got into the number plate light.
tabetha

 

I would remove the fuse and connect a bulb across the fuse contacts. If the circuit is shorted to earth the bulb will light up. Go around the lights/loads that are connected to the circuit and disconnect them. When you find the short and disconnect it the bulb will go out or glow very faintly as there is still some current passing through the other loads on the circuit.

If you disconnect all the loads on the circuit and the bulb is still on then there is a short to earth in the wiring between the fuse and the loads on the circuit. Go around various parts of the loom and move it about. When the bulb flickers or goes out you will be around the area of the short.

The diagram below shows that if there is either a short to earth, a short across a bulb holder (water ingress into bulb holder) or a faulty bulb the test bulb will light up. Remove the short and it will go out or go alot dimmer.

 

Thanks Tabetha!

I will certainly try what you suggest! It does not blow straight away which is bloody typical.

To be honest the drivers side rear light had a blown bulb and I replaced this and it blew the fuse a day or two later. So as you say I will double check this. What confused me was a month or two ago the dash lights didnt come on with the sidelights. I switched the lights back off and on again and they came back on. It has done this again once or twice.

It just a car my Mrs uses as she has to park in a the chelmsford police station carpark where are last car got nicked from!!!! Hence we dont want to park anything of value in there. But the downside of cheap shit cars is it just isnt worth paying a professional to look at anything when you could by another car for the same value LOL!

Thanks again for the input.

 

check wiring goin into tailgate for number plate lights

 

Moonie

Bloody fantastic! Electrics have never been my strong point and something like you have suggested above is JUST what I needed. I will give it a try and let you know how I get on.

I really appreciate the response mate, many thanks!

 

Needforspeed!

I will check this also!

Thanks very much!