Blowing fuses!
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Gaylord, Michigan
Blowing fuses!
Hey guys, let me run this past you. My truck keeps blowing the instrument illumination fuse within 1-2 days of changing it. I'm not exactly electrically savvy, and I'd appreciate any suggestions on where to start.
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Have you added anything to that circuit - gauge lights?
Obviously, something is drawing enough current to pop the fuse; the trick is finding it in a short period of time.
if you added to the circuit, check the addition(s) first. Also check where the wire(s) were routed. Anytime a wire passes next to sheet metal, especially at the edge, you have a potential problem. Sometimes, just cinching up a ty-wrap over the wrong spot will give you fits.
Obviously, something is drawing enough current to pop the fuse; the trick is finding it in a short period of time.
if you added to the circuit, check the addition(s) first. Also check where the wire(s) were routed. Anytime a wire passes next to sheet metal, especially at the edge, you have a potential problem. Sometimes, just cinching up a ty-wrap over the wrong spot will give you fits.
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Senior User
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From: Gaylord, Michigan
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I checked the factory diagram. There isn't much downstream of the fuse. specifically, all the lights tied to the dimmer. Instrument panel, ashtray, Shift on the fly (if equipped), heater control panel and radio are all that are shown on that circuit (for an F-series).
From the fuse, it looks like a light blue/red tracer wire goes to a splice and then the same color wires run from the splice to each item listed.
I'd suspect the fastest way of finding your problem is a good visual/physical inspection of the whole circuit. A faster fix may be to just rewire the circuit (in essence, pull a new feed from the fuse to whatever you want to keep illuminated).
From the fuse, it looks like a light blue/red tracer wire goes to a splice and then the same color wires run from the splice to each item listed.
I'd suspect the fastest way of finding your problem is a good visual/physical inspection of the whole circuit. A faster fix may be to just rewire the circuit (in essence, pull a new feed from the fuse to whatever you want to keep illuminated).
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From: Lancaster County PA
Aren't the tail lights in the same circuit as the dash illumination lights? I don't know about Fords, but I was driving our old Dodge Caravan years ago and the dash lights went out. I wondered what the heck that was all about. The cop that pulled me over for having no tail lights told me they were connected so the driver would know that there was a problem with the tail lights.
I am no expert by any means. I am sure someone else can confirm or dispel this theory.
I am no expert by any means. I am sure someone else can confirm or dispel this theory.
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Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Cuyahoga Falls Oh
Check the plugs for the radio, The light for the dimmer was chaffed on mine and making a intermitant contact causing the fuse to blow.
On the F series (at least our generation) the tail-lights are on a differnt circut from the dash lights.
On the F series (at least our generation) the tail-lights are on a differnt circut from the dash lights.
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