Could blowing the fusible link in the lighter cause other fuses to be comprimised?

[Huskymaniac]

This morning, 5 minutes into a 4 hour trip, my climate control system, the clock and the power mirrors stopped working. Last night, while inflating a very under-inflated spare tire, the cigarette lighter stopped working and a little trouble shooting pointed to the fusible link in it. Is there a larger slow blow fuse that feeds both the lighter and the A/C system that could have been weakened in the process? If so, which one is it?

On a related note, the 20A cigarette lighter fuse under the das is NOT blown! That is what is so baffling.

The closest case I found to this is here:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...ter+a%2Fc+fuse

But the guy that fixed it claimed the fuse blew even though he never personally observed it blowing.

[svxcess]

Tony,

See my post in THIS THREAD

The exact same thing happened to me. the fusible link went, but not the fuse which controls that circuit. I had no other electrical issues that coincided with it.

I replaced the fusible link with a piece of heavy-gauge straight wire. I normally would not do this, but I only use the lighter socket for very low current items, like my cell phone, and my plug-in voltmeter. Will never use it for a high current (heat) item like a cigarette lighter.

[svxcess]

Also check to see if your sun visor lights are working. Broken wires inside short out and cause a failure of the circuits mentioned. you can remove the visores to see if they are broken up my the hinge.

See the post below. it is accurate and informative. I found this condition and the same symptoms in my son's 1992 pearlie.

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...70&postcount=1


This was my solution, which was less involved as the break was up high and easy to get to.

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...08&postcount=8


.

[Huskymaniac]

That last link was interesting because his fuse wasn't blowing either. Maybe a partial short is dropping the voltage enough to shut stuff down?

[Huskymaniac]

So this problem is back. When this originally happened, I replaced the fusible link with a solder bridge which is, technically, a fusible link. I also disconnected both visors. 2.5 years later and my climate control system is wigging out again. This time is just randomly goes dark and randomly comes back on again. No fuses are blowing. The clock, 12V outlet and climate control go dark and come back and either can happen after random lengths of time driving the car. I replaced the 20A fuse under the dash. No change. I replaced the 10A fuse in the engine compartment today. We will see if that helps. Any other ideas?

[michael]

Just curious, do you have an aftermarket stereo? Mine did this years ago and replacing the cigarette lighter with one from the junkyard and redoing the stereo wiring fixed it.

[dannmarr]

Check fuses 2, 3, 17, and 25. They all seem to be connected at one point on the schematics. Is the radio or the wipers affected?

[dannmarr]

If all else fails, check the wiring between the Clock, Lighter, Vanity mirrors, Power mirrors and A/C Control unit. They all connect to each other to breaker #3, its the green/red wire. You may have a loose wire not making contact or shorting.

[Huskymaniac]

Radio is a Pioneer. It does not go dark when the clock and climate control do.

[Svx95]

I agree with dannmarr, check your wiring. I just recently had the fusible link blow behind the cigarette lighter, but have not hany any other electrical issues as a result.

A couple months back I would get an occasional dimming out(to complete off) of my HVAC, and clock. When I did the alternator wiring configuration V4 the issues resolved. So it was just a matter of making good clean grounds as I did NOT replace the alternator with a High Output one.

[Huskymaniac]

Yeah, I wondered about the ground. So it fixed it for you? Right now the car is at the body shop but, weather permitting, I will try the wiring mod when I get it back.