Dash fuse keep blowing

[meltingcube]

I have a box of #10 fuses in my glove box because the fuse for my dash lights continuously keeps blowing. I bought the car used and it didn't do that for the first several months. It is a '96 SL2... any ideas?

[kevo420]

I'd bet that it's happening because one of the wires involved with your dash lights is shorting out. If you don't know what a short is...

It occurs when the current carrying wire becomes exposed (no insulation at some point) and is either touching something that is grounded or another wire that is also exposed effectively bypassing the load (in this case your dash lights) creating a sudden surge in current because there is 0 resistance from the load which in turn causes infinite current (theoretically) which blows your fuse...

so you need to check all wires involved with the dash light circuits. i use a hanes manual because it has wiring diagrams in it (and it's also the best resource available to me in my location) making seeing all involved wiring easy. I don't know if they are available where you are but trace all the wiring involved with the circuit and check for faults... Obtaining a wiring diagram either off the net or from a dealership will help you ALOT. Check your fuse panel terminals for shorts (rare but happens). Also check the connections at wiring harnesses because that is probably the most likely place for a break.

Does this happen only under certain conditions, i.e when you turn the lights on, when your going a certain speed, hitting bumps,or anything that is always consitent?

[meltingcube]

it happens randomly, as soon as I turn on the dash lights. The other night it blew while I was going about 40mph down a straight road, then two more times while I was parked trying to fix it in the dark...

[1994Saturn]

When the dash fuse Blows, Does the parking lights then not work after the fuse is blown?

[SaturnManiac]

The car doesn't like you, man, LOL.

I'm just teasing, but anyways, you most likely have a short somewhere in the dash wiring. Pop-off the dash cover and look at the wires underneath. Or, if it's everytime you turn the lights on (not just at random), it might be a bad switch....of course, it could be a flaky switch even if they stay on for a while....I remember the lights used to go haywire in our old van and it needed a new switch......just be thankful it isn't smoking too, ours did that....we suspect someone got it all gummed up with something. When I first got my car, there was like lotion residue all over the knobs and stuff....yuck....of course, I cleaned it. Mr. Clean or alcohol is your friend for that.