entire circuit fuse 16 dead.. (ie: climate control, shift-lock, VAP steering,compass)

[CamMan02]

Everything on the circuit for fuse 16 is dead. I have yet to drop the fuse box down and check for a bad connection in the back (which i plan on doing today). At first I thought Helen Keller's attempt at splicing in an aftermarket head unit for the original owner was the culprit of a short somewhere. I have since ruled that theory out. NO fuses ever blow, and I check them repeatedly just in case. When the problem started, it seamed to only momemtarily lose power to that series when I would shift from park or reverse into drive, and them resume. So I also was drawn to the thought of the shift lock or nuetral safety switch going/being bad, but the car starts/runs/shifts just fine. Anyone ever heard of this before?? I'm hoping to find nothing more than disconnected wire at the back of the fuse box and :flamer: the problem in the ass.

[ntd]

do you have a multimeter and a Wiring diagram?

[CamMan02]

I don't have a wiring diagram...

[ntd]

do you have voltage on either side if the fuse

[CamMan02]

Don't know yet. gotta wait until i get outta work and head outside.. i was just wondering if anyone had ever heard of the problem or a similar one first before i get out there...

[ntd]

Nothing to common, but I have seen wire corroded in the harness leading to the batter junction block, I have also seen wires corrode on the bottom of the battery junction block leading to the central junction block. Check voltage on fuse 16 inside the car also check for power on 101 (30A) and 115(50A) under the hood let me know what you find

[Got_1]

hmm...I've had a similar problem with my radio. Whenever I shifted from park into any gear the radio would cut out and then come back on somewhere down the road but only if it was a smooth road, however, as soon as I turned a corner or hit a bump it would quit on me again. I checked for power at the fuse and it was good when the radio was working but no power when it wasn't. the fuse itself was ok. I ripped half the dash apart following wires looking for a chaffed wire or poor ground. I pulled down the central junction box and checked the pins at the back of the fuse block and found one of the pins loose. each time it moved slightly it would loose contact with the fuse and kill the radio. I tightened up the pin and its been good ever since!

that may or may not help but just keep that in mind when you do check that fuse and if its not blow and there isn't any power check the pin connections at the back of the block

[CamMan02]

I pulled down the central junction box and checked the pins at the back of the fuse block and found one of the pins loose.


that's exactly what i'm hoping for and it'll be the first place i look tonight

[CamMan02]

well after a 14+ hour shift at work i was out in the dark and cold parking lot for awhile. i can't seem to get the fuse box to drop down so i have access to the back. i know this sounds stupid but there's simply no room down there and the only way i see it dropping down is breaking off one of the plastic tab's on the side thats keeping it from clearing the metal frame it's held in... wtf am i missing?! i had to come inside and get a beer before i lost my mind.

[Got_1]

its been a while since i've been under there but i beleve you need to remove a steel bracket that surrounds the fuse block. best to get yourself a good light and inspect in the morning.

[CamMan02]

got the good light.. it looked like the bracket was welded at the topside but i might've been mistaken with my neck at a 90 degree angle in the freezing cold and exhaustion. more of that to come tomorrow as well but i guess ill look again and poke around some more with the multimeter

[jabird56]

Had something like this a few years back. Clicky linky.....

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=29543&highlight=brake+on+off

[-Matt-]

maybe harness rub on the firewall?

[Marauder386]

THis is the same thing thats wrong with RoadPig One... and still do not know what the problem is ! Add in the foglights,mirrors reverse lights thermometer....

I gave up so now drive without those items in usable condition.



:cool4:

[CamMan02]

i've narrowed it down to something with the fog lights. i believe one of my fog lights is shorting out the other. the fuse for the foglights (i believe its #18, but it's two left of #16) feeds the number 16 fuse in question behind the box (mirror/vap steering/shiftlock/climate control). which i never would have guessed until i tore the car apart, inside out and upside down. sooo yesterday my friend and i spent hours figuring this out, and when we ran out of time i ran a wire from a hot post at the back of the fuse box to fuse 16 with an appropriate 15amp in-line fuse as a temporary fix. today i will be replacing both fog lights and chasing their respective wires for the cause of the original issue and remove my temporary fix. whooo woulda thought?

[Shora]

...today i will be replacing both fog lights and chasing their respective wires for the cause of the original issue and remove my temporary fix. whooo woulda thought?

Would you be able to tell where the fog light wires are run from dash?

My driver's side fog has been out. The negative is fine, but something is up with the positive and I don't know where to start the chase.