Power Distribution box keep blowing fuse???

TheDodgeWraith · 09-10-2011, 11:17 AM

Hey guys, I have a 1997 ford explorer 4.0sohc thats completly stock. The other day the fuse number 10 which is a 30amp in the power distribution box blew. I then tried to replace it but as soon as the new fuse went in, it blew. At the time, the window was down and the fuse that continues to blow, controls the windows,door locks, and dash lights. So just tryin to get the window up I used a 50amp fuse, which did nothing but get hot. I tried using a 20amp fuse and that blew too. I tried doing some research but found little. One thing I read said I have to check the circuit. Not really sure how to do that. Any suggestions????? Thanks

TheDodgeWraith · 09-10-2011, 11:04 PM

Nobody has a answer???

tgreene92 · 09-10-2011, 11:19 PM

check for shorts in the wire or bad grounds, there is a ground wire that runs right off the box, check that first. then your gonna have to get a wiring diagram and find out which wires are the ones that run out the box to all the accessories, find them and check for obvious flaws such as tears in the wire and other miscellaneous grounds. If all that fails then you'll need a circuit tester. And BTW never put a bigger fuse in, the 30 amp is a 30 amp for a reason there's an obvious flaw in the system and that fuse is doing its job by blowing, putting a 50 amp in could cause you to burn up your window motors, locks etc...

budwich · 09-11-2011, 09:18 AM

Although putting in a 50amp is NOT a good idea (as suggested), it does tend to indicate that your short is NOT a "casual type thing" like a little piece of wire or such lightly touching ground and would have melted or "smoked" itself. Its a HARD short, a bare power wire touching metal somewhere. You have to start unplugging things... start by unplugging the battery saver and accessory delay relay.... these will "break" some of the circuit paths eliminating some of the wiring. IF your fuse stays OK (hard way to test but that's another story), then you know your problem is in the wiring after those relays. IF it still blows, you know the problem is before. Most likely place for your problem is under the dash going toward the relay module in the IP (mid center).

TheDodgeWraith · 09-11-2011, 12:03 PM

Cool thanks guys, i will give it a shot and let you know of my findings. Thanks again for your help.

09-10-2011, 11:17 AM	#1
TheDodgeWraith Wannabe Elite Explorer Ft.Lauderdale FL 04 Exp Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 8 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Power Distribution box keep blowing fuse??? Hey guys, I have a 1997 ford explorer 4.0sohc thats completly stock. The other day the fuse number 10 which is a 30amp in the power distribution box blew. I then tried to replace it but as soon as the new fuse went in, it blew. At the time, the window was down and the fuse that continues to blow, controls the windows,door locks, and dash lights. So just tryin to get the window up I used a 50amp fuse, which did nothing but get hot. I tried using a 20amp fuse and that blew too. I tried doing some research but found little. One thing I read said I have to check the circuit. Not really sure how to do that. Any suggestions????? Thanks

09-10-2011, 11:19 PM	#3
tgreene92 Wannabe Elite Explorer south jersey '98 XLT x2 Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 407 Vehicle Specs	check for shorts in the wire or bad grounds, there is a ground wire that runs right off the box, check that first. then your gonna have to get a wiring diagram and find out which wires are the ones that run out the box to all the accessories, find them and check for obvious flaws such as tears in the wire and other miscellaneous grounds. If all that fails then you'll need a circuit tester. And BTW never put a bigger fuse in, the 30 amp is a 30 amp for a reason there's an obvious flaw in the system and that fuse is doing its job by blowing, putting a 50 amp in could cause you to burn up your window motors, locks etc... __________________ 98' XLT, 4.0 SOHC, war shackles 2 in TT, 31" destination AT's,cherry bomb vortex, Aussie locker, Custom snorkel. Basketball pole front bumper. 98 XLT, 4.0 being parted out, pm me for parts>>>. My ex-build thread-http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=311851

09-11-2011, 09:18 AM	#4
budwich Wannabe Elite Explorer Ottawa, Ont 96 XL Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3,246 Vehicle Specs	Although putting in a 50amp is NOT a good idea (as suggested), it does tend to indicate that your short is NOT a "casual type thing" like a little piece of wire or such lightly touching ground and would have melted or "smoked" itself. Its a HARD short, a bare power wire touching metal somewhere. You have to start unplugging things... start by unplugging the battery saver and accessory delay relay.... these will "break" some of the circuit paths eliminating some of the wiring. IF your fuse stays OK (hard way to test but that's another story), then you know your problem is in the wiring after those relays. IF it still blows, you know the problem is before. Most likely place for your problem is under the dash going toward the relay module in the IP (mid center). Last edited by budwich; 09-11-2011 at 12:56 PM.

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09-10-2011, 11:04 PM	#2
TheDodgeWraith Wannabe Elite Explorer Ft.Lauderdale FL 04 Exp Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 8 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Nobody has a answer???

09-11-2011, 12:03 PM	#5
TheDodgeWraith Wannabe Elite Explorer Ft.Lauderdale FL 04 Exp Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 8 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Cool thanks guys, i will give it a shot and let you know of my findings. Thanks again for your help.