ABS module/OD cancel fuse keeps blowing

[CrabGuy]

My son has had my Ranger for a few weeks while his truck is in the shop. He says the 10A fuse (slot 20 foot panel) for the ABS/OD cancel keeps blowing. It's not immediate but intermittent. Now he says the turn signals quit working and the high beams won't stay on. Does this sound like maybe an issue with wiring in the steering column or control stalks? Every car that kid touches comes up with problems.

 

[franklin2]

They did have problems in some of the larger trucks with the OD switch wiring on the end of the stalk going bad and blowing the fuse.

 

[RonD]

Cab Fuse 20 powers a few things

Page 2 of the diagrams

Does fuse blow with key on, so instantly, or does it happen only after driving?

OD(transmission control) switch is the most likely culprit, as it can short where the wires come out of the shift arm
If you pull off the clam shell cover from the steering column you can unplug its 2 wire connector and see if fuse still blow

I wouldn't think Reverse lights, but test putting it into reverse and see if fuse blows, but this can be caused by short in OD wire by moving shifter, so move past Reverse first and wait a few seconds then move shifter to Reverse

 

[CrabGuy]

^^Thanks for the schematics, sounds about right, I'll try that when I get the truck back in a couple days. That #20 fuse sure controls a lot of functions! It only happens while driving he says. Over the past 2 years I've noticed the 'OD off' light come on every so often right after I start the truck so the stalk is likely failing. I always wrote it off to me accidentally hitting the button when shifting into drive.

 

[RonD]

OD button is a momentary contact button

Fuse 20------------------button-----------------------computer Pin 29

When you press the button it sends 12v momentarily to the computer, computer then toggles OD off or on, so what ever it was before pushing the button it goes to "the other" state

Key on resets computer to OD on regardless of its state when key was last turned off

If OD was turning off and then on randomly then its a good bet wires are worn "bare" somewhere and randomly touching each other and are now touching a ground, causing the blown fuse
Not that it matters but the button is most likely OK, short to ground would have to be wire issue