melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

[sly dvl]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

Remove fuse - make sure meter is on the highest amperage scale (usually 10) - make sure the black lead is in the COM pocket and the red lead is in the 10AMP pocket.
Insert leads in place of fuse and read.

With nothing turned on (cig. lighter, int. lamps or anything eles on that circuit) the amperage draw should be zero. Int. lights will draw 1.5 - 3 amps roughly, cig lighter willdraw nearly 10 so plug your meter in and watch the numbers. If you get over 10 amps right away pull the meter.
Flukes have a "slow blow" fuse in them so it won't pop instantly but if you leave it connected for 4-5 seconds and are drawing more then 10 amps through it it will pop the fuse.
I'll post a pic of the meter in a minute...

It's the best image I could find on short notice. Pulled it from one of my powerpoints...

[/IMG]

 

[sly dvl]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

Same picture, just in a different format...

[/IMG]

 

[BoostedSUV]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

I appreciate that picture and explaination! I will mess with it tomorrow. problem is its a 20 amp cicuit, if the meter is only good for 10 amps I wont really be able to tell much will I? I need to turn stuff on one by one and narrow down which is making the big current draw and heating up the power supply side of the circuit before current crosses through the fuse. I notice the melting fuse more when I drive with the parking and fog lights on. I do have my pillar gauge lights wired to the headlight switch dimmer wire which is the only thing I've added to the truck that isnt running off its own circuit.

 

[sly dvl]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

You need to have a look and see exactaly what is on that circuit. Did someone not say the fog lamps are on that fuse too?
Obviously, with nothing turned on there should be no current. Check that first. Then, turn on the int. lights and measure the draw, then turn them off. Then turn on the other accessories on that circuit, measure the draw and move on.
20 Amps is the TOTAL current draw through that fuse with all accy's operating. Realistically you should have no more then about 80% of the fuse amperage flowing through the circuit.
I'd be looking at your fog lamps since the problem seems to occur when they are on, providing they're on that fuse. Also, check the cig. lighter and make sure a dime or something hasn't made it's way into the socket.

K

 

[MIGHTYMOUSE]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

any melting fuses i've ever had were attributed to poor grounds

knock knock.. this isn't my first trip around the block

 

[Don W.]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

FWIW department:

The Ty might be different but according to my Sy manual that fuse runs everything above it on the fuse panel as well which are the following:

Dome
Vanity mirror
Inst lights
Fog lamp relay
Clock
Rear window release

HTH

 

[sly dvl]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

FWIW department:

The Ty might be different but according to my Sy manual that fuse runs everything above it on the fuse panel as well which are the following:

Dome
Vanity mirror
Inst lights
Fog lamp relay
Clock
Rear window release

HTH

The schematic I pulled up (which is supposed to be Ty specific) states the same but also:

Driver & Pass. Pwr. Mirrors
Glove box light
Horn (& relay)

I didn't see anything about the inst. lights. According to my schematic they are fused seperately @ 5 amps.

K

 

[Don W.]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

Inst lights in my man = I/P comp lp

I/P means Instrument Panel, haven't figured out what "comp lp" means. There is a different 5a fuse for the inst lamps so it ain't that, my bad. What the heck is "comp lp?"

 

[sly dvl]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

I would guess that "comp IP" means Complete Instrument Panel? :dunno:

Here's the schematic I've been using for reference. Sorry about the grainy quality.
The pair of orange wires that disappear down to the bottom left are for the Driver & Pass. vanity mirror lights.

[/IMG]

K

 

[alwayscode390]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

I am having the SAME problem with my cigarette lighter.

The first time I blew a fuse when I pushed the lighter in ... and my radio stopped working.

TONIGHT going to work, my radio stopped working and I smell BURNING ... and my interior lights went on. Its too cold now ... and black out ... so in the morning I get to replace a fuse AND jump start my truck ... YAY!!!

I didnt touch the lighter tonight , but when I pulled it out , it was WARM to the touch.

Should I plan on replacing the lighter socket or just leave out my lighter ?! ---

 

[It's just a six]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

I heard from a friend,there are cheap Chinese fuses coming to the US.
They say they are like 20 AMP,but will blow like around 50-60 AMPS.
Buyer beware.

 

[alwayscode390]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

Mine was the horn fuse this time, last time it was the radio fuse.

Are the lighter "female" sockets parts you can get off any blazer, s15, s10 ? I just plan on leaving my lighter off for now ... but when I want to run a laptop later without a battery , it will SUCK , lol ---

 

[jwaller]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

it is a known issue that the fuses that have been sold thru harbor freight and all the places that sell that same brand are bad and they are recalling them. You may want to try a fuse from a different MFG.

 

[canuck]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

try a 5 or 10 amp just to see if it blows. unplug the lighter, plug it back in see if it blows.

 

[Don W.]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

glove box light

Learn somthin' every day..

 

[alwayscode390]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

try a 5 or 10 amp just to see if it blows. unplug the lighter, plug it back in see if it blows.

Mine blows INSTANTLY every time with AUTO ZONE purchased fuses.

I have a 25 in it now , and leave the lighter out = no problems.... but like I said, I would like to plug in my laptop someday ... or my ipod charger . Are the FEMALE lighter sockets replaceable out of a regular s10/s15/blazer/jimmy? Mine must just be corroded? ---

 

[Bill Z]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

Are the FEMALE lighter sockets replaceable out of a regular s10/s15/blazer/jimmy? Mine must just be corroded? ---

The GM replacement female lighters are on the hooks in any parts store in the H.E.L.P.section.

 

[sly dvl]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

glove box light

Ahhhhh, compartment lamp. That makes sense. I thought the lp was an "i"p, not an "L"p.
All clear now.

 

[BoostedSUV]

Re: melting fuse but not blowing it!!!

I changed my lighter socket and i leave the fog lights turned off when I drive now. I used to always drive with the parking lights on along with the fog lights. I haven't been running the fog lights and haven't had a melted fuse issue in a couple weeks... beats me??