1996 Dodge Intrepid ENGINE CONTROL FUSE

ABELC

MEMBER
1996 DODGE INTREPID
188,000 MILES

MY DODGE KEEPS BLOWING THE ENGINE CONTROL FUSE THAT IS LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD. THE DAY BEFORE IT STARTED TO BLOW THE FUSE, I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND I HAD PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AS I WAS COASTING DOWNHILL. BUT WHEN I STARTED TO GO UPHILL AGAIN, I WAS GOING FAST ENOUGH FOR IT TO GO BACK INTO FORTH GEAR BUT INSTEAD IT SLAMMED INTO SECOND. AND NOW IT WON'T GO PAST SECOND GEAR. THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND THE E.C. FUSE KEEPS BLOWING OUT. ANY KIND OF HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,916 POSTS

Second gear is "limp mode" that allows you to drive slowly to a repair shop without needing a tow truck. The Transmission Computer detected a problem. There will be a diagnostic fault code to indicate which circuit or system needs further diagnosis. The Engine Computer fuse SHOULD not be related to the transmission problem, at least not directly. I would start by looking for a wiring harness that fell down onto hot exhaust parts and multiple wires melted and are grounding out.

A simple trick to finding a short is to replace the blown fuse with a pair of spade terminals, then use small jumper wires to connect them to a 12 volt light bulb. A brake light bulb works well. When the circuit is live and the short is present, the bulb will be full brightness and hot so be sure it's not laying on the carpet or against a plastic door panel. Now you can unplug electrical connectors and move things around to see what makes the short go away. When it does, the bulb will get dim or go out.