Blowing fuses

[vibrodolly]

Just recently, I'm blowing fuses.
It is the one that controls the indicators and fuel gauge (does it to stop lamps as well?)
The front and tail lamps work as does the horn.

If I replace he fuse while the engine is on - great, no problems.
If I leave it any length of time when I start the car again, I find the fuse blows, possibly as the ignition is turned on.

Any ideas as to where to look for a start please.

Thanks
nick

[beero]

You don't say what year it is. Never mind, on the fuse holder you have 3 or 4 green wires. Disconnect them all and then reconnect each green wire one at a time until the fuse blows. This will give you a clue as to what section of the circuit is giving you a problem. Then leave the faulty one off and reconnect the other green wires and see what is working and what isn't working. Then come back to the forum with that info and we can take it further.

[bmcecosse]

You are using 35 amp fuses I hope?

[vibrodolly]

I wasn't- 10A replacement. Now I have 45A and it blows those.

I can run it, put the fuse in - all great. Turn it off, come back tomorrow, turn it on - blown.
Can it blow without ignition on? Could it be the switch upon starting? Yes when I've just put a new one in and start if 5-10 times, no problem

Ta

[bmcecosse]

Sure the fuses are 'blown' = not just bad contacts? It';s a bad short if it blows a 45 amp fuse - that really is too high a rating.

[vibrodolly]

Completely blown - the flat wire clearly melted through. - Seems to be on starting- if I replace it while the engine is running - all ok. Can turn on and off several times ok.
Next morning - blown

Nick

[bmcecosse]

I'm trying to think if a bad engine earth could cause this - but I don't think so... Needs to be a chaffed wire touching earth -something like that. Can only suggest taking the green wires off the fuse block - and reconnect them one at a time until the fuse blows. But I don't see why it should be 'on starting'... the Ignition/fuel pump/ solenoid (all white wires) are NOT fused

[vibrodolly]

The chaffing earth comment set me on a path and I've believe I've solved it....

I managed to find a fuse that wasn't blowing. Periodically, when I was using the indicator, the fuel gauge went dead. It happened in both directions, so not and individual left or right circuit, but the flasher unit shorting inside? - No, as it happens.

My minor is a 1958 2 door, originally with semaphores. Before I had it, there was a flasher conversion. The semaphore part of the circuit still has the bare bullet connectors dangling around. They were shorting against each other and earthing behind the dashboard. All taped up and insulate now and all seems to be fine. For the moment.....

Thank you very much for your thought which seem to have led down the correct path.

Nick