Fuse-blowing 2001 Scenic 1.9 dCi cured!

[Insect]

My newly-purchased 2001 Scenic 1.9 dCi Sport Alize blew all its instruments, climate control and brake lights the first time I drove it. When I checked, the fuse that protected all three had been replaced with a paperclip by a previous owner (!), and this had blown. I replaced this with a new fuse, and the car drove for a while before the fuse blew again. Hmm, I thought, is this why the car was px-ed? An undiagnosable major electrical fault? Very Renault.
I was steeling myself for big bills and/or a diagnostic nightmare when, after replacing the fuse again, I just happened to dab the accelerator pedal whilst looking in its direction and noticed a small electrical spark. When I checked more closely, the loom was drooping. Over the years the accelerator had been brushing it and had eventually chafed through the insulation, causing a short if the climate control or brake lights were on and blowing the fuse! Some insulation tape and a cable-tie later and the problem was solved.
The moral of this story is that if a fuse keeps blowing, check for chafed wiring in the appropriate part of the loom before you give up and px the car....