Blown Fuse - short somewhere?

bbrucez · Post by **bbrucez** » 06 Jun 2005, 14:08

My wife's Xsara keeps blowing the 5A fuse for the dashboard lights.
I replaced it but as soon as I turned on the sidelights it went again.
The manual says the supply is from the sidelamps and the function is "sidelamp equipotential + instrument panel (audible warning)".
The sidelamps work fine as they have their own fuses which are OK.
I've pulled the rheostat out and it seems OK but even if it failed surely it wouldn't cause the problem.
I assume there is a short somewhere - maybe a problem encountered by someone out there. Any suggestions where/how to start looking would be welcome.

Stuart McB · Post by **Stuart McB** » 07 Jun 2005, 01:09

I know that the wiring on the Mk 1 Xsara isn't the best in the world for insulation. Take alook at the rear of the fuse box. When you remove the cover panel you should be able to un-clip the box from its mounting. The wiring at the rear is all over the place and it could be a short in here close to the fuse holder.

bbrucez · Post by **bbrucez** » 07 Jun 2005, 13:26

Thanks Stuart, I'll have a look.
Yes, it is quite a pig's ear in there. I remember now the cigar lighter had a blown fuse since I bought the car 3 years old and I didn't bother to fix it after it blew immediately I changed it. I noticed quite a few of the fuses are not the amperage shown in the handbook.

bbrucez · Post by **bbrucez** » 30 Jun 2005, 18:48

Checked behind fusebox - seemed OK.
Levered out dashboard light rheostat - no burnt smell so put it back. Deduced (wrongly) if it failed it would just be full brightness.
Admitted defeat and too to back street specialist. They spent an hour to find it was the rheostat so they bypassed it, put in a new fuse & hey presto.