I keep popping the 30 amp a/c clutch fuse! Help!
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I keep popping the 30 amp a/c clutch fuse! Help!
I keep popping the 30 amp a/c clutch fuse under the hood. It is a bigger, female fuse that is kind of square. If I put in a new fuse the truck starts and runs fine. It is then a mystery when the fuse will pop again. The truck wont start unless the fuse is good. This is the fourth one I put in a couple of days now.
I got a 96 with the inline 2.5. No a/c, manual trans and 2wd.
Any help is appreciated. I must have frayed wires or something somewhere?
I got a 96 with the inline 2.5. No a/c, manual trans and 2wd.
Any help is appreciated. I must have frayed wires or something somewhere?
Champion
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,839
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From: Apex, NC
That fuse is not only for the A/C clutch, but it is also for the radiator cooling fan and starter (which explains why it won't start unless that fuse is good).
Chances are you have a bare wire somewhere that is randomly grounding out. That would be a real PITA to look for, so here is what I would do if I were you. First, pull the A/C clutch relay for a couple days and see if the fuse blows. If it doesn't, then you know its A/C related. If it does, then you know its not A/C related, and continue your diagnostics by pulling the starter relay after you start the truck for a few days and see what happens. If the fuse blows, you can be fairly sure that its fan related cause the other two options were canceled out. If the fuse doesn't blow, well, you really can't take out the radiator fan relay without running the risk of overheating, but it doesn't matter cause you can be fairly sure its a starter issue.
Chances are you have a bare wire somewhere that is randomly grounding out. That would be a real PITA to look for, so here is what I would do if I were you. First, pull the A/C clutch relay for a couple days and see if the fuse blows. If it doesn't, then you know its A/C related. If it does, then you know its not A/C related, and continue your diagnostics by pulling the starter relay after you start the truck for a few days and see what happens. If the fuse blows, you can be fairly sure that its fan related cause the other two options were canceled out. If the fuse doesn't blow, well, you really can't take out the radiator fan relay without running the risk of overheating, but it doesn't matter cause you can be fairly sure its a starter issue.
Champion
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,839
Likes: 5
From: Apex, NC
Originally Posted by jimmysdodge
I dont have A/C, so that should immediately eliminate the problem of the A/C clutch.
I am thinking there is an issue with the radiator fan. I checked the wires going from the radiator fan. I did find one (black wire) that was a little frayed. I fixed that with a butt connector and electrical tape. I ran the truck around for about 5 miles, hoping that it would be fixed. I pulled it back into my garage and left it running. I again checking the fuse and it was fine. I wanted to actually watch my radiator fan kick on though. After my truck ran for about 3 or 4 minutes sitting idle, I saw that the fuse was now blown and the radiator fan never kicked on.
It makes me think that it might now be a frayed wire because the fuse takes time to actually pop. My experience has been that when a hot wire is grounding out, a lot of times the fuse will immediately pop, which is not the case here.
I am thinking that the radiator fan motor is bad or the radiator fan relay is bad. What are your thoughts?
I am thinking there is an issue with the radiator fan. I checked the wires going from the radiator fan. I did find one (black wire) that was a little frayed. I fixed that with a butt connector and electrical tape. I ran the truck around for about 5 miles, hoping that it would be fixed. I pulled it back into my garage and left it running. I again checking the fuse and it was fine. I wanted to actually watch my radiator fan kick on though. After my truck ran for about 3 or 4 minutes sitting idle, I saw that the fuse was now blown and the radiator fan never kicked on.
It makes me think that it might now be a frayed wire because the fuse takes time to actually pop. My experience has been that when a hot wire is grounding out, a lot of times the fuse will immediately pop, which is not the case here.
I am thinking that the radiator fan motor is bad or the radiator fan relay is bad. What are your thoughts?
It sounds to me based on that description that there is definately a problem with the radiator fan or wiring rather than the starter. But I don't think that it took a while to pop the fuse in the sense that you are talking about. I'd be willing to bet that while sitting there idling, the PCM tried to kick the fan tried on and in that instant the fuse blew. Now you just need to figure out if the problem is the fan or the wiring to the fan. Can you turn the fan blades by hand?
Also, if you haven't had a radiator fan since the problem started, and the truck isn't overheating, I say pull the fuse for now while you look for a new radiator fan.
Last edited by 95_318SLT; Jun 3, 2010 at 06:50 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2011
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rad fan po0ping
Had the same problem, same model vehicle ( 1996 2.5 WITH AC).What kept popping the fuse was a shot radiator motor. Could not turn the fan blades by hand, I imagine that the original poster had the same problem. Anyway, this thread helped me on my problem.
Thanks, 95_318SLT
Thanks, 95_318SLT