Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges (Read 1011 times) previous topic - next topic

Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

My "Dash Gauges/Warning Lights" fuse has a ground short somewhere. Fuse blows as soon as the prongs hit the clips when I replace. Looking for trouble shooting methods with either a 12v test light or a voltmeter to determine were on the line the short is.

My wiring diagram shows it is red wire #5 and goes to the Tach then daisy chains to the other instruments. My plan is to disconnect each gauge and somehow check if I still have a hard short to ground. Unplug everything then plug back in one at a time till it blows? Is there a way I can test without wasting more fuses? Not looking forward to pulling wires on the gauges. Already pulled the spade lug out of the back of the voltage gauge. :(

Portion of wiring diagram attached.

EDIT: My Tach died about 6 months ago. All other gauges have been working until now.

see ya
ken

Re: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

Reply #1 –
Not very likely, I chased the same type short for a long time, long story short, stored a metal item on top of the fuel tank, causing a short at the sender.

Re: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

Reply #2 –
The last short i had in the dash was the an adapter unit of the tach sender was broken and shorting to ground. Do you have a multi meter? you could use the Ohm meter on that to check which wire might be shorted. that would at least narrow it down.

Re: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

Reply #3 –
Quote from: kenhat –
  My Tach died about 6 months ago. All other gauges have been working until now.
I'm going to assume, the coach starts?  We all know what a bad ground can do, it can a create a "anomaly" where we have no clue where it's coming from. First thing I'd do, is replace the tach, you know it was needed, anyway. During that, dinking around in the dash, you may discover a loose ground or hot. Let us know where are you and Dori are, we may be able to help, we do carry medicinal Jamesons for emergencies!  ^.^d

Re: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

Reply #4 –
Quote from: kenhat –
Looking for trouble shooting methods with either a 12v test light or a voltmeter to determine were on the line the short is.
Shorts are a bummer (unless worn by a girl with nice legs).

I inherited one of the test devices, exactly like shown in the links below, from my father along with all his other tools.  They must have been making them for a long time.  I used it about 10 years ago to find a dead short in a old car.  I was pretty dubious before I tried it, but to my great surprise, it actually worked!  Found a broken power mirror wire, hidden behind a door panel, where it was touching the metal door skin.

I think they are sold under several different brand names.  If you can find one somewhere for not much money, you might give it a try.

http://www.tooltopia.com/kd-tools-2524.aspx

Amazon.com: GearWrench 2524D Short Circuit Detector: Home Improvement
As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

Reply #7 –
@Chuck I just watched a youtube video on that tool.  ^.^d

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZrCrBx4uFY

I may have to go that route. It looks pretty cool and if I buy it I'll never have another short. (unless it's Dori in her short shorts!)

@Mike Tried disconnecting the Tach and still have the short. :( The Tach was high on my list of possibilities so was willing to sacrifice another fuse.

@Travelingman Good idea. I might even have one of those in the bay. On the move tomorrow so will have to wait a few days to chase it down.

Thanks everyone for the help.

see ya
ken

Re: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

Reply #8 –
Ken,
I would just get a 12 volt light bulb and wire it into the fuse holder.  It will illuminate bright until you find the short and then will dim once you eliminate the short.

Re: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

Reply #9 –
John beat me to the bulb solution. I keep a 12 volt bulb with wire soldered to it with alligator clips for finding shorts.

Re: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

Reply #10 –
You could try removing the jumper from pin 1 to pin 5, then apply 12v to just pin 1 or pin 5. If part of the gauges work with just one of these pins connected then you will have eliminated at least some of the gauges. May narrow your search down a bit. When troubleshooting these types of "shorts" (not the other kind - Chuck) I will always isolate the circuit into two halves if possible and recheck to see which "half" has the issue. Then isolate that in half again.
A better diagram or schematic would also help your situation. 

Re: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

Reply #11 –
So I pull into Love's to fuel up today. Open the bay door and right in front of me is my propane extension hose with the big brass adaptor for the fire pit sitting right on top of the fuel gauge sender. I says to myself "That can't be good". Relocate the big brass adaptor to a safe(er) location run in, pop the dash, and pop in a new fuse. I got gauges!

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions! I'm sure I'll use some of these down the road somewhere.

see ya
ken

Re: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

Reply #12 –
George wins the forum for today  ;)  Let's hope he is rewarded with lots of salmon  ^.^d

Re: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

Reply #13 –
Easy is best!  Congrats!

Re: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

Reply #14 –
That's called the kiss principal 😂

Re: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

Reply #15 –
Quote from: kenhat link=msg=276066 date=1  I says to myself "That can't be good". Relocate the big brass adaptor to a safe(er) location run in, pop the dash, and pop in a new fuse. [/quote
I love that line, "I have met the enemy, and he is me."  ^.^d

Re: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

Reply #16 –
.

Re: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

Reply #17 –
Some days it's better to be lucky than good.

Or for me every now and again even the blind squirrel finds a nut.

Re: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

Reply #18 –
Quote from: George –
Not very likely, I chased the same type short for a long time, long story short, stored a metal item on top of the fuel tank, causing a short at the sender.

When I first read this I thought "I don't have anything metal in my fuel bay". Apparently brass is a metal. Duh! If I'd just gone out and looked in my bay after I read this I'd have saved myself a lot of trouble. I guess it's true "Trouble" is my middle name!

see ya
ken

Re: Blown Fuse Dash Gauges

Reply #19 –
Don't feel bad, before I found mine, rewired tachometer and speedometer thinking that was the inmittent short. Also put a 10 amp circuit breaker in place of the fuse. I chased it for a year. Opened fuel bay and finally saw it, a replacement burner bar.