RichardAllen Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I have a 1997 90 300TDi CSW. It has developed a problem which blows Fuse 17 for the brake lights and reversing light. The circuit works fine when the vehicle is stationary, but Fuse 17 blows regularly on a journey. The wiring is standard, with a trailer socket, and I have the standard 15 Amp fuse and standard lamps. I therefore suspect that a 12v wire is intermittently shorting to earth. Is this a good diagnosis ? If so, are there any well known areas of the wiring loom where people have had this happen before, so I can check them first ? All help gratefully received Regards Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jad Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I had this on my 200 and it was the reverse light switch shorting so could possibly be the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 examine the wiring where it comes out of the inner face of the right chassis rail just forward of the rear cross member, might be shorting on the chassis frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landy V8 Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 also worth a check is the trailer socket wiring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Two-Jacks Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Have/had the self same thing on my 200 and found it to be loose wire at the rear of the fuse box shorting to earth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giles Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Twice had similar things - both times it was the loom inside the chassis rail. I 'bypassed' the offending section. Starting at the multiplug in the engine bay, identify the naughty wire then run a new one to the rear via the vehicle interior... Worked for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TobyMellin Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 I've had the same problem on both my TD5 and 2.5TD, both were the reverse switch shorting. Reverse light isn't necessary for MOT so I've removed it completely Toby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharpy1980 Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 I also had the same prob with my 90 which has the round style reverse light and it was the terminals under the bulb in the bulb holder shorting together, it was hard to fault find as it only shorted whilst the bulb was in so when looking without it in it seemed fine as already said I'd disconnect the reverse light and see if it still blows to rule it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardAllen Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 Starting with the easy solution, I pulled the console fuse box out, and a small bolt dropped onto the gearbox tunnel. How it got there, I have no idea, but it seems to have cured the shorting ! Thanks for the help. Regards Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Starting with the easy solution, I pulled the console fuse box out, and a small bolt dropped onto the gearbox tunnel. How it got there, I have no idea, but it seems to have cured the shorting ! Thanks for the help. Regards Richard nice easy fix & ultra cheap too, probably dropped by a previous owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardAllen Posted September 29, 2011 Author Share Posted September 29, 2011 Starting with the easy solution, I pulled the console fuse box out, and a small bolt dropped onto the gearbox tunnel. How it got there, I have no idea, but it seems to have cured the shorting ! Thanks for the help. Regards Richard Unfortunately the gremlin returned. Plan B - reversing light switch (easier than chasing wiring shorts). I unplugged the switch, drove for a couple of days and the problem did not return. New switch installed and a week later the problem appears cured. Thanks again to the forum, I could have spent hours trying to track down the fault. Regards Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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