Technical Fuse keeps blowing

[Petey]

Alright guys here's my problem....
Got my Abarth almost a year ago and since then it has intermitantly blown fuse F49, didn't think much of it really. Then last week the fuse blew again, then again etc etc until it reached the point where it blew on starting the car. Since then I've removed my head unit and all my amp cables, to find the fuse didn't blow on start up...happy days?? NO lol. Now in blows 10miles into my trek to work....can anyone suggest anything?? I've been wanting to mod my Abarth but having to spend money on it none stop has haulted me, not helped by hitting a deer at the start of December (still havent got a new bumper)

Cheers,
Petey

 

[Davren]

F49 supplies a host of consumers including: Sreering wheel controls, Connect Nav, Parking sensors, Rain/Daylight sensor, Center console control panel, Heating/climate control panel, Ideograph lighting, Light/menu control panel, Volumetric/antiraising buttons, Front roof lamp and Sunroof controls.

The fact that removing the HU temporarily cured it, suggests there's a short behind the HU, possibly a trapped or uninsulated moving wire.

Is it the original HU and wiring?

 

[Petey]

Wasn't the standard, was some cheap and really tacky JVC thing...think all the wiring was changed too

 

[Davren]

That's likely where your problem is going to be.

Take it out and leave it out for a while. Make sure all the wires are insulated and use the car for a few days. See if it still blows the fuse.

 

[Petey]

Will do that mate, cheers for taking the time to help us. Will post up if it all works

 

[drew HGT]

same problem.
any luck?

 

[Andymacselespeed]

Not directly related, but I saw a car fuse load tester at a local factors recently, looks like a mini multimeter, has settings for amps, volts etc and a connector with the two blades to put into a suspect fuse position. You plug it in and use or to show current drawn to help diagnose electrical faults. The one o saw was only £15. Had long enough wires so you could have the gadget next to you while wiggling wires!

Have a google, I think it was called a car fuse ammeter/voltmeter or something similar!

 

[Steve148]

I saw a car fuse load tester at a local factors recently, looks like a mini multimeter, has settings for amps, volts etc and a connector with the two blades to put into a suspect fuse position.

Sealey TA120 seems to be the gadget - £16 on Ebay. I know it's an old topic, but maybe someone will find the info useful...