Instrument gauge fuse blows in 4x4

vwpassion · Jan 1st, 2004, 09:59 PM

When I shift to 4wd (after locking the hubs), the fuse for the instrument cluster blows. The speedo, tach, odometer gauges are then dead, but the truck is engaged in 4wd. In fact, the 4wd light is also still on. I can shift out, replace the fuse, and the gauges are fine. Anyone ever heard of this problem? I've replaced the fuse enough times so now I'm asking for help. Thanks!

agentbook · Jan 1st, 2004, 10:36 PM

Perhaps a bad tranny ground? Thats the only thing I can think of, or a bad ground somewhere.

Do you have any other electrical problems?

vwpassion · Jan 2nd, 2004, 06:53 PM

It seems that all the electrical problems are in the instrument cluster. When the fuse blows, and the gauges go out, the "battery" light comes on. No other fuses blow. I know that my low fuel light no longer turns on when the fuel level gets low. I'm not sure if that's another story. It had previously worked, but was on and off.

jasonl · Jan 4th, 2004, 08:53 PM

My truck is doing the exact same thing. It first blew the fuse a day that it snowed and I had the 4x4 engaged. I replaced the fuse and tried to see if I could get it to blow in relatioin with engaging the 4x4, lights, reverse lights and everything else that is protected by that circuit, but it wouldn't blow. About a week later while in 2WD it blew again, then again, then again, I was at camp and the only fuse I had was a 20 amp as apposed to the rated 10 amp so I put it in. I finally looked up behind the fuse panel 2 days later and found a wire that was melted so I replaced it and thought I fixed the problem. 5 Days later the 10 amp fuse blew so rather than chase the intermittent problem I went to Advance Auto and bought a circuit breaker. It has been 2 weeks and I have never seen it trip. I figure if it starts kicking the breaker constantly the problem should be easier to find. If in the mean time you figure out what is causing, post and let us know, I'm sure we're not the only 2 having this trouble.

vwpassion · Jan 5th, 2004, 01:19 AM

That's strange... mine blows only when in 4wd. All lights work fine, just the gauge fuse blows. You're right, it is 10 amp, and I haven't checked the wires which I will do next. Good idea on the breaker. Do you have other problems with your indicator lights? As mentioned, my fuel gauge seems to have gradually gone out. Those bottom lights light up, though, during startup.
James

kmayhorn · Dec 5th, 2007, 09:18 PM

I purchased a 97 4x4 about a month ago and have the same prob. Except nothing to do with 4wd. I was driving up the road and the speedo,tach,temp, and ect went out and the battery light came on. Ever time i replace the fuse it blows on contact "like dead ground" I started unpluging the sending units on the tranny one at a time and then pulled the insterment cluster and started unpluging them one by one. And evertime the fuse blew on contact. I pulled the fuse pannel and had a white wire with black strip that was melted i replaced it thinking it would fix it. And the fuse still blows. I have tried everthing i Know. Did anyone with this prob figure out how to fix it.

**88pathoffroad** · Dec 8th, 2007, 03:51 PM

I'd check under the truck for melted or damaged wiring near the exhaust first. Something is grounding out and popping the fuse, which usually means bare wiring touching bare metal somewhere.

kmayhorn · Dec 8th, 2007, 04:53 PM

I have checked all the wires under the truck. I even ran a jumper wire from the fuse pannel to the speedo unit on the tranny and it still blows the fuse. Is there anything inside the tranny that could cause this. I had the tranny rebuilt and this prob happened about 3-4weeks later.

**88pathoffroad** · Dec 8th, 2007, 07:40 PM

I can't think of anything like that. When you shift into 4WD, all it should do is turn on the dash light for 4WD. Maybe check under your carpet near the shifter to make sure there's no wiring down there that's rubbing against the floor? Weird problem.