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Fuse blows when turn on front defroster

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PTAaron

CEG'er
Joined
Aug 3, 2001
Messages
59
Location
Novi, MI
Looking for suggestions... Starting new thread since new fixes were attempted.

Story: car originally came back from having diff/trans/starter replaced and fuse 23 keeps blowing every time I switch the blower to "def" or "floor/def". Also occasionally blows on startup. This of course kills the blower, turn signals, and backup lights.

Fixes: headlights/turn signal assy replaced due to condensation, switches checked with volt meter - seem ok, fuse box replaced (I think - Scott?)

Picked car up yesterday from having this and the subframe repaired - fuse blew immediately upon flipping the blower switch, and again this morning on startup. More to the story, but I'm so far beyond pissed off right now I won't get into it.

Any ideas? I need this car to work right.
 
Anyone?

Any suggestions on what to check next?

I would like to avoid having my car in the shop for another 2 weeks.
 
You are going to have to trace the wires from the switch all the way to either their destination or until you find the wire that has lost some shielding and is touching a ground. The speed in which it blows tells me there is a very bad short to ground.

Get a wiring diagram and follow the wires from the switch. It is not difficult but can be time consuming.
 
Thanks for the tips. I will start trying to trace the wires and see what I can find.

The blowing out on startup is a little confusing to me.
 
you have a short somewhere.
pull out the A/C control panel if possible and look at the wires. Check the wire for the defrost button or setting or whatever it is, I can't recall. and follow it as best you can.
 
Thanks for the tips! I've been still driving the car - and it is fine as long as I don't flip the switch to AC or defroster, and as long as I remember to pull the fuse before starting the car and put it back once it is running. I have gone through probably 10 fuses though from forgetting to pull it on startup :(

I took a look under the dash again - didn't find anything "strange" on the passenger side. Went under the hood and found what looks like about 2 inches of insulation melted off the positive battery cable (on the underside so you can't see it from the top) and at the starter there also appears to be some bare wire. I don't know if this could be part of the issues - it does blow the fuse on startup 50% of the time.

Inspecting the wires going to the AC compressor doesn't really reveal anything... they look ok to a quick glance. I was expecting to see something majorly wrong based on how fast it blows, but I will inspect things in more detail.

Is it possible there is an issue with the AC clutch? Seems like if that was shorting or something it would blow the fuse?
 
I am having the same issue rite now i was just driving down the road with the heat on defrost and randomly lost heat and turn signals :mad:. idk about the back up lights:confused: If you figure out the issue please let me know.
 
I don't mean to hijack the thread but I'm having a somewhat similar issue only my problem is I'm stuck on defrost. A/C, heat everything works but only blows through the defrost vents.. any suggestions? It worked fine the last time I cranked it over and tested everything out.. I've checked and replaced most fuses but still nothing.
 
To the OP. Like the others said, your problem sounds like a short in the A/C wiring. Though, another place you can check is the wiring going into your fuse panel. In the far right corner of your fuse panel as you are facing the panel, the 2 wire pigtail going in there you should pay special attention to.

Murtaza said:
I don't mean to hijack the thread but I'm having a somewhat similar issue only my problem is I'm stuck on defrost. A/C, heat everything works but only blows through the defrost vents.. any suggestions? It worked fine the last time I cranked it over and tested everything out.. I've checked and replaced most fuses but still nothing.
Click to expand...

check vacuum to the selector switch, make sure door actuator is moving. The deal that selects where your hot or cold air goes is controlled by vacuum.
 
FIND said:
check vacuum to the selector switch, make sure door actuator is moving. The deal that selects where your hot or cold air goes is controlled by vacuum.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. I'm kind of new to the Duratec so could you help me pinpoint where the selector switch is?

Edit: err did you mean the selector switch for the hvac controls? Is there an actual vacuum attachment in the back somewhere?
 
Murtaza said:
I don't mean to hijack the thread but I'm having a somewhat similar issue only my problem is I'm stuck on defrost. A/C, heat everything works but only blows through the defrost vents.. any suggestions? It worked fine the last time I cranked it over and tested everything out.. I've checked and replaced most fuses but still nothing.
Click to expand...
Look under the dash. There is a teapot looking thing. One of the hoses is probably loose or broken. If not, then check the hoses from the intake manifold in the engine bay to the firewall.
 
You can eliminate the AC compressor, by disconnecting the fuse to the compressor clutch at the compressor. If you're still blowing fuses, you're going to have to get a wiring diagram and start troubleshooting.
 
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