QuestionQUESTION: when you make a hard left hand turn it will blow the engine module fuse. of course the engine dies, you can replace the fuse and it will start right back up. It was a 10amp fuse, i put a 15amp in it last time and it lasted about 2 months. (i ran out of 10amps and was stranded at the time). It only blows on a hard left hand turn. I carried to dealer, they said bad battery, I really did not think that was a problem but allowed them to put a new 90 dollar battery in it anyway. $275 dollars later, driving home from the dealer it did it again. Any Ideas? I am thinking short in the wiring harness somewhere but not sure. thanks.
ANSWER: Hi Jamie,
The factory shop manual that I have doesn't identify the fuses by their functional label (e.g. 'engine module') but I believe you are speaking of fuse #11 under the dash in the third row from the top, third fuse from the left side, correct? If not, please let me know the location of the fuse that is blowing, and also mention which size engine you have in the vehicle.
I doubt it has anything to do with the left turning electronics, but rather something like a part of the steering mechanism touching one of the wires that is carrying current from the fuse that blows and shorting the current to 'ground', by which we mean any metal part of the vehicle that is attached to the - post of the battery. That fuse does send wires back out to the engine compartment to about 5 different components so the wire has a lot of possible places to be exposed to such a short situation.
I can describe an approach to finding the cause, but first let us verify that we are speaking of the same fuse. Also, do you have a volt-ohm meter, or a friend with such? That device would allow us to search for the problem without having to blow fuses while we are looking.
I would also seek some redress from the dealer shop who sold you on that fix. They should refund the labor cost for sure, and you might even try to get them to reduce the part charge on the battery because it wasn't really needed. Mention 'small claims court' if they won't come forward with a refund.
Roland
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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I think we are talking about the same fuse. I agree that it has to have something in the steering column that is shorting out to blow the fuse. What would you suggest I do to find the short. I have an ohms meter. thanks.
AnswerHi Jamie,
I believe that the short is probably in the steering mechanism under the car, not the steering column in the cabin. The wire that exits the fuse box is dark blue/white and it goes from the fuse block in the cabin to the power distribution box under the hood where it connects to 4 other identical wires as a splice. Between the fuse box and the power box it passes through a 26-pin disconnect that is gray in color that is located near the left hand (driver side) end of the engine (on the front side of the engine). I don't know the path but try to find that disconnect and trace it harness back to the cabin.
From the splice inside the box identically colored wires go to fuel pump relay (in the box), the controller for the anti-lock brake (under the power box near the firewall), the powertrain controller (behind the power box), and the evap purge solenoid (if this is a 1.6L engine?) which is near the power steering pump's pressure switch located on the back side of the pump, it it inboard of that pump switch.
So you have the anti-lock brake controller (if you have anti-lock brakes), or it might be just an unused wire/plug hanging where the controller would otherwise be positioned, and the purge solenoid also best seen from under the car near the power steering pump, which are probably located hear the steering gear and the tie rods which come out of that gear on either side. What I would do is find these devices and the wires to them (after jacking up the front end of the car and putting it on jack stands so you can rotate the steering wheel back and forth easily, and also get under to look for any contact points). Then simply look for any places where the moving parts of the steering system come into contact with any nearby wires when you have wheel turned sharply left. You could use you ohmmeter to tell you exactly where in the motion of the steering system causes the short to happen. Simply pull the fuse and attach the ohmmeter to the lower pin of the fuse socket. Read the resistance with the wheels straight ahead (it should be a few ohms). Then rotate the wheel left until the reading drops to close to 0 ohms and that would be the point where the fuse would have blown due to the short of one of those wires. Then look around closely for any contacts that could be a short at that very position of the steering system.
Please let me know what you learn from this search. Also if you would click on the 'thank/rate' tab below and 'rate' me, I would be most appreciative.
Roland
