Selecting reverse blows 'meter fuse

[newbongoowner]

Hi all

This is an on going issue I am having with my bongo, when selecting reverse the 15a 'meter" fuse blows. This is an intermittent issue as in sometimes will blow all the time then not at all for days with no apparent intervention. Its got my auto electrician stumped.

Reverse bulb and wiring you can see seem fine.

Can anyone tell me what the 15amp fuse controls

All forward gears work fine

I do have a tow bar fitted

I am using a 6amp thermal fuse so I can reset it if it decides to blow while out and about.

Any insight work be greatly appreciated

[g8dhe]

Can you tell us what fuse box, and what fuse position your referring to not all the boxes have the same lettering! Also helps to tell us what engine type and style as things vary....
All the fuses, lights and circuits along with common problems, causes and some fixes here http://www.g8dhe.net/bwm

[newbongoowner]

Hi

Its a 2001 v6 petrol AFT and the fuse box in question is the one in the cab by right knee.

It controls the dashboard at least as everything on the instrument panel stops working, rev counter, dash lights etc but bongo still drives but in limp mode when fuse goes, if engine turned off it will not start again unless I change the fuse

[newbongoowner]

Fuse is in the middle row, 2 in from the left 15a blue

[Bob]

If you have fitted a 6 amp fuse where a 15 amp one should be that could be part of the problem.

[newbongoowner]

So found this on the recommended web page

15a Amp Mini fuse
Engine - Starter And Alternator - WL-T,FE-E,J5-DE
Engine - Control System - WL-TMT,WL-TAT
Instrument panel - Combination Meter - WL-T,FE-E,J5-DE
Chassis related - EC-AT Control System - FE-E, J5-DE
Body - Auto Free Top - WL-T, FE-E, J5-DE
Body - Srs Air Bag System - WL-T, FE-E, J5-DE
Body - Sound Warning System - WL-T, FE-E, J5-DE

Would any of these be related to the autobox being put in reverse?

[newbongoowner]

It was happening way (used about 20 15amp fuses in a couple of days)before using the 6am thermal fuse it was just the one the electrician had in is van

15a resettable one ordered.

But is running perfectly well with the 6amp patch lead when the problem isn't surfacing.

Battery does not seem to be holding charge for very long either, new battery last year and have had to charge it about 3 weeks ago after the initial problem arose. Again electrician check the amp draw when ignition off and there was no drain on either battery. I have a feeling that when the problem is occurring that it may be draining the battery

[g8dhe]

So found this on the recommended web page

15a Amp Mini fuse
Engine - Starter And Alternator - WL-T,FE-E,J5-DE
Engine - Control System - WL-TMT,WL-TAT
Instrument panel - Combination Meter - WL-T,FE-E,J5-DE
Chassis related - EC-AT Control System - FE-E, J5-DE
Body - Auto Free Top - WL-T, FE-E, J5-DE
Body - Srs Air Bag System - WL-T, FE-E, J5-DE
Body - Sound Warning System - WL-T, FE-E, J5-DE

Would any of these be related to the autobox being put in reverse?

Yes most of those circuits have a feed for reversing! Incuding things like the Radio - as often that has a display for the reversing camera! There are LOTS of places that have that signal - Has any work been carried out on the vehicle prior to this starting to happen, like new radio, and servicing, rusr repair etc. ?

[newbongoowner]

The only thing I have done recently was to remove the drivers door speaker (to measure and eventually build a custom mdf pod) which was just to unclip the connector so no live bare wires and also the radio which was swapped out last year runs off the leisure battery. I did also install a radio kill switch as the standby was draining the battery at the same time as the radio install but this was all last year and this problem has started to occur within the last couple of weeks.

Needle in a hay stack comes to mind especially since the fault can't be reproduce on demand so to speak

[sotal]

Given that it is the dash and everything that goes off, I would be inclined to think that the fault is in that area. After all the fuse is blowing so you'd expect the fault to be there. As you have linked the fact that selecting reverse is the initiator to the problem then that would suggest it is something to do with the gear selector light or the reverse warning buzzer as they are the only two things that I can think of in that region of the car.

All guess work but just following the logic. Does the reverse buzzer sound? Mine is a bit dodgy - can barely hear it most of the time.

Of course as these cars are a few years old they could have had the wiring modified over the years. Reverse cameras could have been fitted in the past, perhaps redundant wiring from one remains somewhere?

[g8dhe]

Check the easy bits first, start with the Radio plug, which has the reversing signal and dead easy to get at, check to see if any wires have been trapped in the loom when the radio was physically inserted and that no odd cables left lying insulated for any reason in that area.

[newbongoowner]

Thanks for you suggestions!

In terms of the reverse beeping the last owner disconnected the module down by the drivers right foot so no beeps at all. I did connect it back up last year because I got caught out with leaving the lights on but had to disconnect again as I could not stop the beeping, couldnt figure out what it was beeping for lol.

I did have a fiddle again last night and disconnected the white connector to stop the key in ignition beep and then connected back up the module by the foot well, I thought all was well as now had lights on beeeeeeep tone but when engine started and all doors close the beep beep beep started again and could not figure out why.

No headlights on

Doors closed

Roof down

Seatbelt on

In 'park'

Engine running

Still the beep beep beep arghhhhhh

There was a solid tone with the lights left on with no engine on

Not sure if any off this is related though

[g8dhe]

Could be! The reversing signal does go to the SWS and if that is misbehaving then another obvious place to inspect, there are a lot of things going on in that area so any odd stray bits of wire/metal brought into the cab on shoes etc. can get lodged in the connectors causing a nightmare to locate ....

[newbongoowner]

Sorry couldn't figure out what SWS is??

[sotal]

I'd definitely be starting there. It sounds like you have a fault somewhere. Unplugging the buzzer might stop the beeping but the fault will probably still be there.

If it helps I think mine is normal operation albeit a little bit quiet. Mine beeps when in reverse. I also get a similar noise from the same sort of area if the door is opened and the key is still in the ignition.

Does your front courtesy light come on properly when the driver's door is opened? (Just to check the door switch is working properly)