Help - dash problem

[WIl9062]

Major failure of dashboard gauges, radio, lights etc - seems like a fuse gas gone but have checked the 15A fuses on the main fuseboard per the handbook and seems OK. Any ideas? Car ignition seems OK, fuel pump is whirring etc.

Thanks

[QBee]

Does it still start and run?

[WIl9062]

Yes it does!

[QBee]

I don't think the car will start if the 80 amp fuse in the rats nest has blown.
Then it has to be a fuse box fuse I think - sadly you need to pull them all out of the fuse box in order and check them. It's a different fuse in almost every car it seems.

Replace them with glow as they blow fuses if you can wait for them to arrive - they light up when they go. Costs about a tenner for the entire fusebox. Available on EBay.

I double ordered, so have a spare set of these fuses if I can find them in my man cave, I can send them to you tomorrow if you want them.

[QBee]

I have just looked in the Steve Heath book and the dash fuse is 10 amp in a number of versions

[WIl9062]

You are right, it is a red one but I have replaced it and blown it again so there is a fault somewhere else.

[s p a c e m a n]

My dash fuse kept on blowing because the yellow led wire that goes into the heater dial was shorting out, that's all it takes to kill it. Car hasn't got wet recently has it? I found my fault by wiggling little sections of the dash wiring until I heard the fuse pop, is a great game

[Classic Chim]

s p a c e m a n said:

My dash fuse kept on blowing because the yellow led wire that goes into the heater dial was shorting out, that's all it takes to kill it. Car hasn't got wet recently has it? I found my fault by wiggling little sections of the dash wiring until I heard the fuse pop, is a great game

[Alpha Omega]

s p a c e m a n said:

My dash fuse kept on blowing because the yellow led wire that goes into the heater dial was shorting out, that's all it takes to kill it. Car hasn't got wet recently has it? I found my fault by wiggling little sections of the dash wiring until I heard the fuse pop, is a great game

A wiggle test is a great method for finding shorts

[QBee]

Alpha Omega said:

s p a c e m a n said:

My dash fuse kept on blowing because the yellow led wire that goes into the heater dial was shorting out, that's all it takes to kill it. Car hasn't got wet recently has it? I found my fault by wiggling little sections of the dash wiring until I heard the fuse pop, is a great game

A wiggle test is a great method for finding shorts

Thanks guys - I am now stuck with that image - middle aged blokes wiggling in shorts - for the rest of the day.

[caduceus]

Classic Chim said:

s p a c e m a n said:

My dash fuse kept on blowing because the yellow led wire that goes into the heater dial was shorting out, that's all it takes to kill it. Car hasn't got wet recently has it? I found my fault by wiggling little sections of the dash wiring until I heard the fuse pop, is a great game

Have another

[WIl9062]

You are right, it is a red one but I have replaced it and blown it again so there is a fault somewhere else.

[Steve_D]

Are you referring to fuse 16?

If so then when you come to tracing the area of the short you need to know that the fuse serves....

• The dash instruments
• Speed module in the dash
• heater control module
• Electrics in O/S Door.
• Boot release

On that basis I would be unplugging some of those other circuits first as they are easier to get at than the many connections within the dash.

Steve

[QBee]

Of those two I would go for heater control muddle first, and door electrics second (water on washing/June weather).
Check the plug going into the module - the main power terminal tends to burn out. The module is straight back from the heater controls, under the dash top. 10mm ratchet ring spanner is your friend for the dash nuts.