Just registered on here, sorry my first post is a problem! lol

 

Have a 2002 Octy VRS Mk1 in Yellow, with cat back system and custom code remap, goes pretty well

 

Is a great car but have a weird and annoying problem.

 

When I have the headlights on and accelerate it blows fuse number 11 (instrument cluster) Just the dash and climate control lights basically. If I drive steady its fine, and the fuse only blows when the lights are on. Lights still work fine, just the dash backlights which don't.

 

As you can imagine its pretty annoying at night when you cant see the dials! lol

 

Anyone had this before? Is a strange one!

I would start by checking the fusebox on top of the battery and its wiring. It may not be at fault but its a common problem and once checked ruled out

cheers mate

Whats normally the issue with them?

The crimps on the wire from the alternator goes bad, causes the fuse box to melt its fuses.

When I have the headlights on and accelerate it blows fuse number 11 (instrument cluster) Just the dash and climate control lights basically. If I drive steady its fine, and the fuse only blows when the lights are on. Lights still work fine, just the dash backlights which don't.

 

As you can imagine its pretty annoying at night when you cant see the dials! lol

 

Anyone had this before? Is a strange one!

 

The fact that the 5A fuse F11 blows indicates it is overloaded, and not due to low battery volts.

 

As it only happens only when you accelerate hard, it suggests to me that a wire is moving and shorting to ground. If this wire has been moving for some years it may have rubbed through its insulation against a sharp edge and now makes contact to it only when pushed into place by acceleration. The wire from Fuse 11 is black with a purple stripe. 

 

Alternatively, One of the outputs from the instrument cluster has the same problem of a short to ground but less likely as F10 is used for higher loads.

 

I assume your car is not automatic, but if it is, the same fuse is used as the supply for the transmission lock solenoid.

 

I would start by moving wires with the ignition on to see if you can reproduce the fault: first without the headlights on, then with.

cheers will check that

 

Its a manual so think thats all this fuse operates.

 

Ill have a play about with the wires, did consider trying a slightly larger fuse like a 7.5A or 10A but I guess they are 5A for a reason!

Edited 30 May, 201412 yr by paul16v

I have no idea if this will help - but I will post it anyway!

 

A while ago, I had a Volvo S40 T4. At one point, I asked a mechanic friend about a faulty brake-light switch. He had a look in the driver's footwell, moved the carpet and bits of wiring loom around a bit to have a look, and then advised me accordingly.

 

It wasn't until a few weeks later, that I braked hard and when I did so, I lost all the instrument panel lights, along with all the sidelights. I discovered that it was a blown fuse. I replaced the fuse, all fine. Then a few days later, the fuse blew again. This kept happening, until I realised it was only happening when I had to brake hard...

 

After a think, I looked at the brake pedal inside the car - and only then did I find out that when my mate had been looking in there, he had moved a bit of the wiring loom, which the brake pedal was now hitting when I pushed it, had then worn through the loom, and hence when I pushed it down hard enough, was causing a wiring short!

 

One of those amazing faults! But reminded me of your issue - so I would check that your throttle pedal assembly ISN'T hitting a bit of the wiring loom somewhere? A long shot, but worth checking out...

Thanks mate

Gonna investigate tomorrow. Think it's started doing it since I've had the stereo out and put back in as it wasn't sitting in far enough so wonder if I've disturbed something

Thanks mate

Gonna investigate tomorrow. Think it's started doing it since I've had the stereo out and put back in as it wasn't sitting in far enough so wonder if I've disturbed something

 

There we go....

 

Generally it is always something potentially that has been moved , changed . so yeah a large possibility you could have put pressure on ignition or permanent live wires.

 

There ain't a lot of room at the back of the stereo..

Yeh tell me about it lol. Has an in dash DVD, Sat Nav thing.

 

dash lights gone off again but fuse doesnt seem to have blown this time, wondering if something else has blown now :(