Expert: Roland Finston - 7/3/2011

Question
QUESTION: "The instrument cluster fuse on my 1995 Chrysler Town & Country blows when I turn on the headlights. Any idea why and what I can do to repair it?"

ANSWER: Hi George,
There are two fuses that send power to the cluster: fuse 1 in the box under the hood, and fuse 15 in the fuse box under the dash. So it would be easier for me to answer if you could specify exactly which fuse is blowing.
Roland


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: It's the fuse under the hood. Everything works until I turn on the headlights.

ANSWER: Hi George,
If you mean the 15 amp fuse in the rear/inboard corner of the power distribution center is blowing, then I would believe it has to do with the courtesy lamps that are controlled by the dimmer/slider switch of the headlamp switch. If you turn the slider to the off position it should not blow the fuse if I am correct. Please verify we are talking about the same fuse and that if you turn the slider to the off position then the fuse won't blow when you turn on the headlamps. Then if that is so I can tell you possible bulbs that are short circuited to ground and thus causing the fuse to blow. But it is so complicated I need your verification.
Roland
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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The fuse that's blowing is a 25-amp "mini" fuse in the rear corner. My son installed wiring for a trailer. Could this be the problem??

Answer
Hi George,
If you mean the very cornermost one of the 8 fuses there, that is the fuse that powers all sorts of things needed when the vehicle is shut off (and later when on of course also). It is supposed to be 15 amp, the only 25 amp is the fuse that may be labelled "Lo Fan".
If nonetheless, the fuse that blows is the very corner fuse which might be shown as IOD or fuse 1 , then the only draw on that fuse that is related to the headlamp switch directly is the dimmer/slider part of the switch but it isn't dependent on the headlamp being 'on' to draw current.
Are you sure it doesn't blow without try to turn on the headlamps?
There are many things that can blow that fuse but very few if any require that you turn on the headlamps.
There are some lights at the rear that draw on that fuse so it possible that the trailer wiring was done improperly.
I would ask you to look at the trailer wiring or speak to your son about how it was done.
I am at a loss to know exactly why the IOD fuse is blowing when the headlamps are turned on, and only when you do that.
Roland