Fuse blows every time I turn the key to on

Tiny
JIMPETERSON
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 DODGE RAM
  • 5.9L
  • 6 CYL
  • TURBO
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 250,000 MILES
The fuse that is top row third from left, blows fuse every time.
Turn signals do not work.
Tuesday, December 5th, 2017 AT 1:24 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
Every time you turn the signals on, or every time you pop in a new fuse? Are you in the fuse box under the hood or inside? Have you checked for damaged trailer harness wiring? That is a common cause of blowing fuses.

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 twelve 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 is 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.
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Tuesday, December 5th, 2017 AT 1:53 PM
Tiny
JIMPETERSON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I am blowing a fuse every time I turn the key on. It is not necessary to have the signals on.
The only reason I thought there was a connection between the turn signals, and the blown fuses, is I noticed them about the same time.
And what fuse is the one inside the truck, top row, third from left? I lost the fuse door, with the diagram.
I bought an RV, and towed it one hundred miles home, but all my problems are without any trailer cables plugged in.
Thank you for the help,
Jim
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Tuesday, December 5th, 2017 AT 4:05 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
The trailer usually is not the issue. Problems are almost always with the wiring harness on the truck. They get chewed up and short together.

I will be back tomorrow to continue. I am freezing in my van right now and I want to look at a wiring diagram so I give you the right information.
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Tuesday, December 5th, 2017 AT 6:39 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
I could not find a drawing of the fuse box layout, but I did find the drawing of the wiring connections that should get us to the same place. See if you can find the naughty fuse on this drawing, then I can find it on the schematic diagram to see what is involved. You will need to find two numbers on the drawing corresponding to the fuse's two terminals.
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Wednesday, December 6th, 2017 AT 4:25 PM

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