Main fuse melted

[bernhund]

A few weeks back after the car had been left out in the damp for some time, I found the battery dead. So battery booster pack attached and up she fired, albeit with the battery light on. After a little revving, the light started to turn itself off until it remained off at idle. So far so good, I put the car in the garage.
Went to start it a few days ago and it was dead, the immobiliser light on the steering column wasn't even flashing. Put it on trickle charge for a few days and it was still dead. Refitted the charger onto the battery in case it wasn't on properly and all of a sudden on came the immobiliser light and the ignition lights. Went to start it up and 'click' nothing, and out went the lights. I have since found that the main fuse has melted and I'm assuming this was the problem all along, just giving the impression that the battery was dead. A bit of wiggling the fuse and she started with no problem at all...but the battery light is still on!
So here are the questions: Could the battery light be on because the fuse holder is knackered? What part number and from who do I get a replacement? If the holder doesn't solve the battery light issue, where do I next look?
Thank you in anticipation all you car electric gurus!

[Metalman]

Are you talking about the main 80a fuse next to the ecu or one of the two main fuses on top of the fuse box in the foot well? If your fuse is melting rather than blowing it usually means theres a bad connection (caused by corrosion) between the fuse and the holder, causing a high resistance and melting the fuse. I have replaced some of the fuse holders on mine as they are cheap to buy, I'll see if I can find where I bought them from.

[bernhund]

Metalman said:

Are you talking about the main 80a fuse next to the ecu or one of the two main fuses on top of the fuse box in the foot well? If your fuse is melting rather than blowing it usually means theres a bad connection (caused by corrosion) between the fuse and the holder, causing a high resistance and melting the fuse. I have replaced some of the fuse holders on mine as they are cheap to buy, I'll see if I can find where I bought them from.

This is the main 80amp job. I think you're right, it probably had a bad connection. I've just bought a cheapy from Halfords for the moment to get the car going but will want to fit the genuine item if you know what it is. Cheers

[Metalman]

I've had a look but can't find one anywhere, I'm sure I bought mine from www.carbuildersolutions.com but they don't seem to have one. To be honest, if I was to buy another one then I would get a better, fully waterproof one to make sure it didn't happen again as there are better versions available now.

[Metalman]

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinest...

As far as I can remember, this is the one we have fitted but check it with the fuse holder in your car just in case it's different. Usually the cover is missing so water gets into the fuse and it corrodes causing the problems.

Sorry it's taken me so long to find it.

[bernhund]

Metalman said:

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinest...

As far as I can remember, this is the one we have fitted but check it with the fuse holder in your car just in case it's different. Usually the cover is missing so water gets into the fuse and it corrodes causing the problems.

Sorry it's taken me so long to find it.

Thanks for taking the time to find this Jason, I'll have a close look at mine to see if it is the same. Though I do know there's a nut either side of it holding it on but that might be a separate bracket.

[Jamescmr2]

hi,

i'm certainly not an electrical specialist but i'll tell you what happened to me...

I had the battery/charge warning light flicker on and off when i started a journey then it went away. about an hour from home the car just died completely. I pulled in to a side street and found the 80A fuse had blown.
On inspection the Alternator was found to have "failed" and this popped the fuse. If my memory serves me i think i also had to replace the ECU as the power surge on failure also damaged that!

Might be worth checking ECU/Alternator as well!

I hope that's not scary but i just wanted to share.

All the best and luck

James

[bernhund]

Thanks James. Hopefully a bad contact in my fuse holder is the cause, but electrical issues do worry me on cars. The last thing I need now is a new ecu!