Stuck in Park, Blown Fuse

[Richardireland]

Yes, do you think they might be connected, no of course they're connected! What I mean is do you think that because they are there that it might be connected with the fuse blowing?

[MattF]

I'd pop the back off of those connectors and make sure that you haven't got cartloads of crud stuck in there first. There may be a chance they are plugged with mud or could be wet/corroded and tracking across if it has ever been offroaded.

[GRASSMAN]

Both reversing lights work but if I leave it in reverse for very long it will blow the fuse. I also have noted that the battery volt meter, which must be on the same fuse, dips quite sharply when I put it into reverse. A lot of current is going somewhere.

Hi Richard,

If it's a dead short to earth, the fuse will blow instantly, but you
say it fails in a short time, this indicates a poor earth/connection somewhere,
heat build up in the wiring harness, is causing the fuse to melt, not
blow, check the earth tags in the rear lights, and make sure all
connections are sound and clean, including all the bulbs.
Hope this helps,

Gman.

PS EDIT: Check the brake lights, thats where the start inhibitor
takes it's feed from and locks it in park, no power, no move the
selector.

[Albannach]

Have you checked it's the right fuse you have in there?

[GRASSMAN]

Don't over fuse it mate, you WILL have an electrical fire.

Gman.

[Albannach]

Don't over fuse it mate, you WILL have an electrical fire.

Gman.

I'm not suggesting over fusing it, I'm merely asking if he has the right one in there.

[GRASSMAN]

I'm not suggesting over fusing it, I'm merely asking if he has the right one in there.

Hi Albannach,

Quite rightly too, but it does sound like a poor connection,
don't you think ? (as most electrical probs on cars usally are).

Gman.

[Albannach]

Hi Albannach,

Quite rightly too, but it does sound like a poor connection,
don't you think ? (as most electrical probs on cars usally are).

Gman.

Yep, I do. But, unles it's something really simple or obvious, it's impossible to diagnose an electrical problem over the internet? Best taken to a specialist.

[GRASSMAN]

Yep, I do. But, unles it's something really simple or obvious, it's impossible to diagnose an electrical problem over the internet? Best taken to a specialist.

Hi mate,

AGREED, yes, take it to a proper electrical garage.

Gman.

[MattF]

Quite rightly too, but it does sound like a poor connection, don't you think ? (as most electrical probs on cars usally are).

It sounds like an electrical system fault. Stating one possibility does not make it the cause, merely a possibility, as are all the previous suggestions. Without methodical diagnosis, however, we'll never know.

[Richardireland]

Thank you everybody for all your help, I have now found the culprit. I include here the details in case it helps someone else. Thanks in particular to MattF for asking if I had a towbar, this pointed me in the right direction and this is indeed where the fault lay. The silly sausage who installed the towbar ran the two cables from the double socket OVER the towbar between it and the rear bumper. The gap between these two was only about 2mm and the cables over time have been compressed to the point of damage. One of the wires, presumably the reversing light, was (very nearly) shorting to earth but not too bad until I drove in the wet, we have a lot of that here!, and Bob's you aunty a near short, bridged by water causing the fuse to blow. Thanks again everyone and I hope this might help someone. Regards Richard

[GRASSMAN]

Hi Richard,
glad it's sorted.

Gman.