Ryclef and other smart guys - HELP - READ THIS NOW

Paul · Apr 4, 2008

So, over the weekend I was just puttering up the street to my friends house when my daily driver just DIES. No sputtering, no bucking. Just. Dead.

Turns out, the 20 amp fuse to the EEC asploded. Strange. So I replace it and I'm on my way with no issues.

Tonight, I go to the track and I'm busy abusing my car. About 100 feet out the same fuse pops, and the car dies once again.

What on earth would cause the fuse to the EEC to pop? I'm an damn near electrically illiterate, so any help would be appreciated.

Paul.

Downshift · Apr 4, 2008

Im guessing somehow there is a short or something. Not sure becuase it is the EEC. Goodluck man thats some messed up shit.

Asylum938 · Apr 4, 2008

Sounds like a bad ground to me, I'de say go over your grounds and make sure theres no crud building up and causing bad contact points.

Paul · Apr 4, 2008

Would a bad ground cause a fuse to blow?

fastgtfairlane · Apr 5, 2008

Paul said:
Would a bad ground cause a fuse to blow?

not under normal circumstances. a loose ground could cause a bunch of erratic things to happen at once or at random times. i would recommend getting a wiring diagram and going over the wires that are associated with that fuse that keeps blowing. you could also just start checking wires near the computer or in the engine bay that may be pinned or pinched some where to cause a short to ground. hell your computer could also be taking a poop too. i will see if i can get a hold of a wiring diagram of the car, in particular the eec wiring diagram and diagram of the fuses and see what i can come up with. i have a lot of electrical diagnosis experience.

Stangbangin · Apr 5, 2008

Paul said:
Would a bad ground cause a fuse to blow?

no it wouldn't. The only thing I can see happening is one of your wires is arching out on another one overloading that circuit.

ddrracing · Apr 5, 2008

YES a ground could cause it to do that. An intermittent ground will cause all sorts or erratic current within the circuit, and cause the fuse to blow.

Paul, what year is that car? I'll see if i can find a diagram and help you out any.

Paul · Apr 5, 2008

It's a 95 GT, and it's blowing the large 20 amp fuse to the EEC under the hood.

Wiring diagrams can be found at:

http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/

Any help is appreciated. I'm not good at electricity.

Paul.

ddrracing · Apr 5, 2008

I took a look at that schematic (these ones suck by the way), and first of all i would take a look at the EEC ground (BK/W) that looks like its under the dash. Also check the connections to the EEC relay located under the dash as well. If all is well here, I would check the incoming power to that relay, (YLW) and verify that you do not have a high voltage situation. I would not rule out sticking contacts within that relay as well.

I'm not just pullin stuff out of my ass. I work for a washer and dryer company (Speed Queen) in technical service, and sit and troubleshoot circuits all day long, and am an electromechenical student.

Mr. OAM · Apr 5, 2008

With the key left out of the ignition I would run a test light from the battery + side to the circuit-out side of the fuse holder. Not being super familiar with your car I would say that the light in the circuit tester should remain off because there should be nothing to close the rest of the circuit. Move around the various wire harnesses associated with the EEC circuit after that fuse. Watch the light in the circuit tester or have someone else stare it down for you. If it blinks while you are moving wires around then you found the place that the short is occuring at.

Steve

fastgtfairlane · Apr 5, 2008

ddrracing said:
YES a ground could cause it to do that. An intermittent ground will cause all sorts or erratic current within the circuit, and cause the fuse to blow.

Paul, what year is that car? I'll see if i can find a diagram and help you out any.

you are thinking about a short to ground which is a ground before the load source.

ryclef331 · Apr 5, 2008

Paul....I hate electrical more than anything. everyone above has posted exactly where I'd start.

AaRoN · Apr 7, 2008

I'm not a master electrician but I do have quite a bit of personal experience with wiring, fuses, etc.

With that said; YES. A bad ground will in fact cause a fuse to blow. It's not always the case, sometimes the part in question will just not work at all. It depends on how much power it's trying to draw. Especially if it's a faulty ground then it will most likely cause the fuse to pop.

I'd be happy to make a video demonstration of this happening if you (or anyone else) has any doubts to this input.