Electric woes Fuse A - Constantly blowing.

[adrians]

The Spider been sitting there happily for the past 3 months since I last used it. I regularly kick it over and let it idle in the garage.

I had planned on using it this weekend so I decided to take it out and wash it.

Started okay - all good, then I realize the tacho wasn't working, but engine was running okay.

Found the blown fuse "A" - replaced it, then turn on the ignition, blown fuse again - 3 times late, the same.

I haven't changed anything or moved anything since it's last outing....

I check all the usually area, indicator stalk, steering column connections, brake light switch etc ..... hazard lights work, turn indicators don't !
(Seat belt relay disabled)

Anyone got any other ideas ???

[azruss]

If it blows as soon as you turn on the key, you have a dead short. It can be anything from a loose wire that is touching a ground or a worn spot in the wire insulation that is shorting to the chassis or another wire in the same group in the middle of a harness. (impossible to find). It can also be a short in one of the accessories going thru that fuse. You can start by unplugging accessories or connectors going thru that fuse until it doesn't blow anymore. Like looking for a needle in a haystack.

[DieselSpider]

It could be something that got brittle and rattled off or something that an animal chewed on too.

[Squidders]

Are any others lights or gauges also not working besides the tacho?

Unscrew the fuse box and check the connectors on the back of the fuse box for lose or poor connected wires on fuse A.

[adrians]

Thanks for all the suggestions

I finally got it working again after pulling the dash out and rechecking all the P.O. wiring, (also the wiring to convert from LHD to RHD) managed to cut a lot of excess wiring and third party fuses holders (not in use) out of the system, can only assume there was a short somewhere in that wiring.

So took it out for a spin, washed the car and the when to restart it .............. dead as a door nail !

Yesterday found that the starter motor solenoid connector had fallen off, so fixed that - Hopefully all good now.

Just love old cars !

Thanks