Super Duty blowing fuses

Do any of you guys know what would cause my 2003 to blow the #17 fuse in the panel under the steering column? After driving for hours on Sunday night, my instrument cluster lights suddenly went out. Upon checkng, I found that I also had no running lights or marker lights. After replacing the fuse, the lights may work for several seconds, maybe a minute, then the fuse blows. Because this takes time to heat up and blow, a slightly higher amp fuse might keep things working, but I know that's just begging for an electrical fire.

I've checked (and disconnected) the trailer wiring plug and all 4 corner lamps are working until the fuse blows. Could this be some sort of relay problem?

up

Most likely the shifter handle on the column....overdrive button wires rub causing this issue....easy repair

Thanks much. I'll check that out.

NOS42, you have a pm.

Back at ya

You da man!

Glad I could help......Mike

maverick wrote:Do any of you guys know what would cause my 2003 to blow the #17 fuse in the panel under the steering column? After driving for hours on Sunday night, my instrument cluster lights suddenly went out. Upon checkng, I found that I also had no running lights or marker lights. After replacing the fuse, the lights may work for several seconds, maybe a minute, then the fuse blows. Because this takes time to heat up and blow, a slightly higher amp fuse might keep things working, but I know that's just begging for an electrical fire.

I've checked (and disconnected) the trailer wiring plug and all 4 corner lamps are working until the fuse blows. Could this be some sort of relay problem?

Using a larger fuse on a faulted circuit is called a smoke test and is widely used in home garage settings and driveways. It usually finds the short but also usually with costly results.

I don't recommend this test , but have used it on occasion when temper over rode better judgement.

All repaired....no smoke test needed...lol

NOS42 wrote:All repaired....no smoke test needed...lol

Glad to hear, What did you find?

Damnedest thing I ever saw. A seemingly unrelated system causing the problem. The wiring in the steering coluumn that runs to the "tow/haul" switch at the end of the shifter was slightly chafed...I mean SLIGHTLY. It would blow the light system fuse but the "tow/haul" would continue to work normally. I'd have NEVER found that one on my own. To NOS42....A public "HATS OFF".

IDT-572 wrote:

maverick wrote:Do any of you guys know what would cause my 2003 to blow the #17 fuse in the panel under the steering column? After driving for hours on Sunday night, my instrument cluster lights suddenly went out. Upon checkng, I found that I also had no running lights or marker lights. After replacing the fuse, the lights may work for several seconds, maybe a minute, then the fuse blows. Because this takes time to heat up and blow, a slightly higher amp fuse might keep things working, but I know that's just begging for an electrical fire.

I've checked (and disconnected) the trailer wiring plug and all 4 corner lamps are working until the fuse blows. Could this be some sort of relay problem?

Using a larger fuse on a faulted circuit is called a smoke test and is widely used in home garage settings and driveways. It usually finds the short but also usually with costly results.

I don't recommend this test , but have used it on occasion when temper over rode better judgement.

I have also used this test ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

back when I worked on the bench another tech used that method to find a short in a New "86 Cadillac , I ended up with it after he got run off and I had the privilage of replacing the body harness!!
Frank

Frank Merkl wrote:back when I worked on the bench another tech used that method to find a short in a New "86 Cadillac , I ended up with it after he got run off and I had the privilage of replacing the body harness!!
Frank

So the method really works! It pinpointed that bad harness.

not really a bad harness but a miss aligned harness in the drivers side sill cover and a screw had rubbed a wire , shouldn't have been that hard to find without melting the whole harness !! He took a piece of 10 gauge wire from the batt and plugged into a 22 guage wire and let it smoke!!
Frank

Frank Merkl wrote:not really a bad harness but a miss aligned harness in the drivers side sill cover and a screw had rubbed a wire , shouldn't have been that hard to find without melting the whole harness !! He took a piece of 10 gauge wire from the batt and plugged into a 22 guage wire and let it smoke!!
Frank

Kind of like using a payloader bucket to finish drywall. It gets the job done, but you just have to replace a little more than what you needed to.