AC fuse blowing after some time

tsk1979 · 13th July 2008, 16:46

Today I discovered that the compressor was not turning on in the Indica.
Checked the Fuse and the 15A fuse had gone, and replaced it.
It worked for some time, and then this fuse also melted.
Looks like there is not a short or something, but the fuse is seeing more current than normal.
While replacing the fuse for the second time, I switched of the Ac, and as soon as I touched the new fuse there, there was a spark.
But further touching did not involve any sparking.
Looks like residual accumulated charge.
This fuse will in all probablity run for some time, and then blow.
Any idea what could be the cause of slow leak.
Could it be that the compressor is drawing more load?I doubt the wiring, because when wiring shorts fuses blow immediately.

Shashank.A · 13th July 2008, 16:57

did you get any work done recently ?

Randhawa · 13th July 2008, 20:53

It could be due to the Aux fan(got weak or jammed) on condenser or a bad relay. Could also be the carbon deposit on the connectors.

I don't think it to be the compressor because it does not draw much current as it only needs it when to engage or disengage the clutch.

crashdrive78 · 13th July 2008, 21:40

Does the wiring around the fuse melt before the fuse blows? I had a similar issue with the head light wiring on my Wagon R, later found that the 60->100W converter relay had gone bad. Replaced the relay and then things look good so far. You might wanna check with someone who could diagnose the electricals in a good way..

arunforu1 · 13th July 2008, 22:42

Check relay, or may be slow leakage (wiring touching painted body surface-a commmon problemin Indica).....Need an expert electrician to trace with patience.

tsk1979 · 14th July 2008, 00:57

I had gotten the AC compressor bearing changed.
I think it could be the paint thingy, or maybe the relay has gone bad.
Thanks fellas.

DirtyDan · 14th July 2008, 14:50

You might want to check and see if a 15amp fuse really should go there. It would not hurt to visualy inspect all the wiring around the a/c for a bare wire and short.

headers · 14th July 2008, 15:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Today I discovered that the compressor was not turning on in the Indica.
Checked the Fuse and the 15A fuse had gone, and replaced it.
It worked for some time, and then this fuse also melted.
Looks like there is not a short or something, but the fuse is seeing more current than normal.
While replacing the fuse for the second time, I switched of the Ac, and as soon as I touched the new fuse there, there was a spark.
But further touching did not involve any sparking.
Looks like residual accumulated charge.
This fuse will in all probablity run for some time, and then blow.
Any idea what could be the cause of slow leak.
Could it be that the compressor is drawing more load?I doubt the wiring, because when wiring shorts fuses blow immediately.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

I had gotten the AC compressor bearing changed.

Maybe the bearing fitment is not proper causing more load on the compressor causing a higher current, hence fuse blows.

All the above is a BIG maybe!

tsk1979 · 14th July 2008, 15:12

Nope, a faulty bearing will put load on the Engine, this fuse is for the the switch.
If the compressor "shorts" then this fuse will blow.
Compressor is run from the engine directly with belt.

headers · 14th July 2008, 15:16

How does the compressor short?

AbhiJ · 14th July 2008, 15:34

Had a similar problem with my indica... but in my case the horn's fuse kept getting blown.

As far as I can recollect, it was some problem with the earthing...so at least thats what the garage guy said.

It was fixed pretty cheaply..

tsk1979 · 16th July 2008, 18:06

Ok, now its completely shorted.
The fuse blows immediately.
I was worried that compressor has shorted(big $$), but then we checked by directly connecting the compressor, and it works fine, no excess load etc.,
Even relay is fine. Shorting is there even after changing relay(I used HL relay to check this)
Tomorrow morning the electrician will trace the entire wiring by opening up the dashboard to see if here is some earthing problem etc., or some wire is shorting somewhere!

headers · 16th July 2008, 18:21

Am 80% inclined to believe that the earthing wire is loose, disconnected somewhere. Indicas are notorious for this!

tsk1979 · 16th July 2008, 18:29

Which earthing wire...? The condenser earthing wire?
Which place do we check for the most likely suspect?

headers · 16th July 2008, 18:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Which earthing wire...? The condenser earthing wire?
Which place do we check for the most likely suspect?

Start with the central earthing point. Trace all wire circuits. You will definitely find one of them having a continuity issue.

The problem i faced was slightly different. After my car caught fire and me changing the entire wiring harness, it all came down to a silly earthing point. But it irritated the hell out of me for almost 2 weeks and an alternate day visit to my inlaws [read COncorde Motors Chennai].

My PW earth issue caused my HL to work intermittently. Horn not functioning etc.

But having said that, i should also admit, that i sold the car 2 months after that!

13th July 2008, 16:46	#1
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,695 Thanked: 23,484 Times View My Garage	AC fuse blowing after some time Today I discovered that the compressor was not turning on in the Indica. Checked the Fuse and the 15A fuse had gone, and replaced it. It worked for some time, and then this fuse also melted. Looks like there is not a short or something, but the fuse is seeing more current than normal. While replacing the fuse for the second time, I switched of the Ac, and as soon as I touched the new fuse there, there was a spark. But further touching did not involve any sparking. Looks like residual accumulated charge. This fuse will in all probablity run for some time, and then blow. Any idea what could be the cause of slow leak. Could it be that the compressor is drawing more load?I doubt the wiring, because when wiring shorts fuses blow immediately.
	() Thanks

13th July 2008, 16:57	#2
Shashank.A BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 484 Thanked: 11 Times View My Garage	did you get any work done recently ?
	() Thanks

13th July 2008, 20:53	#3
Randhawa Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brighton Posts: 1,203 Thanked: 361 Times	It could be due to the Aux fan(got weak or jammed) on condenser or a bad relay. Could also be the carbon deposit on the connectors. I don't think it to be the compressor because it does not draw much current as it only needs it when to engage or disengage the clutch.
	() Thanks

13th July 2008, 21:40	#4
crashdrive78 Newbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 7 Thanked: 0 Times	Does the wiring around the fuse melt before the fuse blows? I had a similar issue with the head light wiring on my Wagon R, later found that the 60->100W converter relay had gone bad. Replaced the relay and then things look good so far. You might wanna check with someone who could diagnose the electricals in a good way..
	() Thanks

13th July 2008, 22:42	#5
arunforu1 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 254 Thanked: 7 Times	Check relay, or may be slow leakage (wiring touching painted body surface-a commmon problemin Indica).....Need an expert electrician to trace with patience.
	() Thanks

14th July 2008, 00:57	#6
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,695 Thanked: 23,484 Times View My Garage	I had gotten the AC compressor bearing changed. I think it could be the paint thingy, or maybe the relay has gone bad. Thanks fellas.
	() Thanks

14th July 2008, 14:50	#7
DirtyDan Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dharamsala, H.P Posts: 2,107 Thanked: 1,664 Times	You might want to check and see if a 15amp fuse really should go there. It would not hurt to visualy inspect all the wiring around the a/c for a bare wire and short.
	() Thanks

14th July 2008, 15:12	#9
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,695 Thanked: 23,484 Times View My Garage	Nope, a faulty bearing will put load on the Engine, this fuse is for the the switch. If the compressor "shorts" then this fuse will blow. Compressor is run from the engine directly with belt.
	() Thanks

14th July 2008, 15:16	#10
headers Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Greater Chennai Posts: 4,667 Thanked: 563 Times	How does the compressor short?
	() Thanks

14th July 2008, 15:34	#11
AbhiJ Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 1,498 Thanked: 1,256 Times	Had a similar problem with my indica... but in my case the horn's fuse kept getting blown. As far as I can recollect, it was some problem with the earthing...so at least thats what the garage guy said. It was fixed pretty cheaply..
	() Thanks

16th July 2008, 18:06	#12
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,695 Thanked: 23,484 Times View My Garage	Ok, now its completely shorted. The fuse blows immediately. I was worried that compressor has shorted(big $$), but then we checked by directly connecting the compressor, and it works fine, no excess load etc., Even relay is fine. Shorting is there even after changing relay(I used HL relay to check this) Tomorrow morning the electrician will trace the entire wiring by opening up the dashboard to see if here is some earthing problem etc., or some wire is shorting somewhere!
	() Thanks

16th July 2008, 18:21	#13
headers Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Greater Chennai Posts: 4,667 Thanked: 563 Times	Am 80% inclined to believe that the earthing wire is loose, disconnected somewhere. Indicas are notorious for this!
	() Thanks

16th July 2008, 18:29	#14
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,695 Thanked: 23,484 Times View My Garage	Which earthing wire...? The condenser earthing wire? Which place do we check for the most likely suspect?
	() Thanks