Blowing fuses regularly

[TedS]

I have a 2002 Ranger 4x4 and for the past few weeks the heater and AC fan motor fuse has been blowing on a regular basis. It's a 10 amp fuse and when I replace it everything will be fine for a day or so and then it blows again. The fuse never blows when I'm driving, instead it always blows on startup. I know this because the airbag is apparently on the same circuit and the airbag warning light comes on when the heater fuse blows.

You guys have been dead-on in the past for other issues that I have had so I'm hoping that someone here can offer some advice.

Thanks!

 

[whiteboi895]

Your not the only one

I have a 2001 ranger xlt 4x4 and it does the same thing. its always blowing the fuse. I dont know if its a short or what. although I'm not sure when the fuse blows I think it blows on startup but I just don't bother replacing it anymore since its so annoying.

 

[warrior24]

what ever you do not put a bigger fuse in.

 

[np24]

maybe a 10amp self resetting circuit breaker would do it.
a standard size is somewhat easy to find, a mini breaker is gonna be hard.
not sure what size it uses.

 

[4x4junkie]

That fuse is a 30 amp on mine ('90 & '94)... Are the later trucks supposed to be 10 amp? (seems small for a blower motor)

 

[whiteboi895]

its a 10 amp mini

 

[TedS]

Since I started this thread a few months ago I thought I should finish this up in case anybody else has the same problem.

With October and the cold air arriving not having any way to defog the windows is no longer an option so this week I had a local garage look into the problem.

Long story short, they found a wire with the insulation worn off inside the steering column. They said that it appeared that movement of the gear shift shaft had worn through the insulation which shorted out occasionally.

They said that the circuit controlled a relay that operated to fan motor and some other things.

Anyway, that was the cause if anyone else has such a problem.