Blowing fuse 3 - Help, i need my tunes!!

[Chris-White]

hello people of gti forum.

My problem for today is this: On my new old golf, fuse number 3 (from left, blue 15Amp one) blows as soon as it is put in to the holder. This fuse controls the f*g lighter, interior light, and, most importantly, the stereo   
The car has been broken into previously, and since this the central locking hasnt been working (apparently, i only got the car last week). When the car was boken into, the stereo got stolen. In the words of the previous owner - ripped out violently. This makes it the prime target for my fuse blowing porblem! however, all of the wires (from what i can see) are fine, albeit with exposed ends, meaning could it be coincidental, or something to do with the C/L?? Anyone know of a common sort of thing that might be causing this, cos i reeeeaaalllyyy dont wanna go ripping out half of my dash to find bugger all!!

Please help, cos i do alot of motorway miles, and im a friggin awful singer 

[Chris-White]

Anyone?

ive got hayfever coupled with a sore throat, so even singing is now out of the question 

oh, i put a 30amp fuse in and it didnt blow, but got extreeeeemly hot, so i got scared and pulled it out again! dunno if that helps?

[Lap]

Sounds like you have a short circuit somewhere which is causing it to draw too much current so the fuse is doing its job by blowing. You definitely do NOT want to be putting higher current fuses in to get round the problem. 

I'd probably start by looking at the wires left by the ripped out stereo. Wrap electrical insulating tape around each exposed end so that they can't touch each other or the chassis. You say they look fine but you might want to trace them back and check the insulation hasn't been damaged on any sharp edges when the stereo was yanked out.

Not sure about the central locking, unless it runs off the same fuse?

[Mr Blue]

Unclip the connector block at the back of the cig lighter socker

refit the lower amp fuse to see it if blows. If it dont then the lighter is causing the problem


i had this. 

[rubjonny]

I think the central locking is on the same fuse as the radio, I'd say its the live feed to the stero is earthing out somewhere behind the dash!  Take out the lower driver side dash tray and pull all the stero wiring down and trace it back to the fusebox checking it for damage

[Simpson]

I would concur. Check all positives behind stereo hole. 

[Chris-White]

cheers, i shall have a mission tommorow and report back!