fuse blowing

[vectormechanic]

Other than a general short somewhere, can you give me any clues about what might be causing my middle main fuse to blow (the one that includes the starting circuit and dash lights)? I notice a former owner had to replace the fuse socket, and now the current socket is melted and the fuse burned beyond recognition. Could it be a voltage regulator and overload problem? Just trying to find out what's common, or am I unique?

'93 Festiva L

[fastivaca]

One thing to check is the wiring directly under the fuse block. Another is the harness where it goes behind the block and under the intake as it makes its way to the alternator. I've seen the one to the alternator actually melt... right blue*93

[JPT]

Mine did this soon after I got it. It ate the stock fusible link and 4 fuses I rigged up as a temporary fix. I tested the alternator and all of the wiring. All good. Turned out to be a bad battery.

[fastivaca]

Mine did this soon after I got it. It ate the stock fusible link and 4 fuses I rigged up as a temporary fix. I tested the alternator and all of the wiring. All good. Turned out to be a bad battery.

Forgot about that... and I just had it happen to me!

[Pu241]

I can't really add too much to the above, good advice!

Except perhaps to ask that you go back into your profile and let us know where your located:
UserCP (in blue blue bar above)
Control Panel(left screen)
Edit your details
scroll to the bottom of the page and add your location.

This just helps us help you!
Knowing were your at means some one could drop by to lend a hand.
Your choice, no obligation, and no salesmen will call.

[vectormechanic]

thanks for all that. i want to know, how exactly did the bad battery cause the overload? was it because of a short inside the battery?

[JPT]

thanks for all that. i want to know, how exactly did the bad battery cause the overload? was it because of a short inside the battery?

My battery was old and I believe it did have a short. Also, if your battery doesn't hold a charge, it can make your alternator work overtime. This can pop fuses and burn wiring.

[fastivaca]

My battery had a dead short inside. It would either blow the main fuse or fry the regulator. Tech said the battery was drawing well over 70 amps :shock:

[Pu241]

My battery had a dead short inside. It would either blow the main fuse or fry the regulator. Tech said the battery was drawing well over 70 amps :shock:

Surprised it didn't boil the the electrolyte.
Given the fuse is 35 Amps it blew pretty quickly, so probably only reason it didn't.
I would also think you weren't anywhere near 13.5 Volts on the battery.

Vectormechanic, you might want to swap your battery with a known good one. Would tell you if it was the battery without buying a new one!

[vectormechanic]

I failed to mention that before the fuse holder (which replaced the stock main fusible link) melted, the car main circuit was dead. After trying the key from time to time over about an hour, the dash lights slowly came on and then the car started right up. Then while it idled, we smelled the electrical burning, which turned out to be the fuse holder. But the smell went away before I discovered what caused it and I drove a few miles to the grocery store. When I came out, it was dead again. I had it towed home. I followed your suggestion and put in a spare battery and a new fuse and it ran fine since. But I put the original battery on an automatic charger and it seemed fine, although I haven't had it tested at the parts store yet. I expect it was the battery but that it was an intermittent problem. Let you know if I find out different.