Quote:
Originally Posted by TexasSwift
Just today all of my dash warning lights came on. I checked the belts and they were fine. I continued toward work and after 20 miles the fusible link blew killing all electrical power. Besides the fusible link, there were 3 fuses under the hood and 7 in the interior kick panel fuse block blown. I replaced the fusible link and the car will start and drive. I keep blowing the interior 10A CRUISE/ABS and 10A METER/SRS LAMP fuses. I have no turn signals, cruise or climate control.
If could be caused be the alternator diodes, I will check the AC output. If Trevor or someone can tell me what readings to expect or which terminals to probe that would be helpful.
Keith
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How do Keith?
It would appear that your dash lights have come on steady rather than flickering, but please confirm.
The symptoms you report would indicate severe over voltage, due to a regulator fault as well as possibly an initial rectifier diode fault. The regulator is integral with the alternator. An exceptionally high current flow is required in order to blow the fusible link.
In order for fuses to continue to blow, a short circuit must exist on the affected circuits. This is probably due to a high voltage damaging components on these circuits. It would appear that the high voltage is no longer present and could have been limited to a short term spike.
I could be off track, but the above is my immediate reaction. If you wish to check for AC. Switch your meter accordingly and look for any level of AC. The meter should not record DC as this is blocked by the internal rectifier. Please report your findings on the basis of considerable interest.
Your experience is a clear indication of the need to retain protection within the alternator wiring, this being discussed within another current thread.
Trevor.
P.S. As you now report a very low battery, there could be a near short circuit remaining within the alternator, not solid enough to blow the fusible link. The symptoms are rather complicated for sure.