A problem with fuses - help!

[saracen]

Well, the latest is that (having some free time at last) I have experimented with putting the Bongo in reverse when not actually in a rush to get anywhere. Once again, the same fuse went after a couple of minutes in reverse, and again the reverse beep sounded strange. Reverse lights (unmodified) however were okay. I think (hope) that the beep or something associated with it may be the problem... I will experiment with detaching the beep as on the helpful Youtube clip. Need a few more spare fuses first!
Thanks once again for all your interest and help - it's brilliant and much appreciated.
Gill

[widdowson2008]

Short circuit/poor connection on the reverse beep gismo? Could this cause the fuse to blow?

[g8dhe]

If it fails after a few minutes and its not due to vibration or operating something else, plus the fact that the beep isn't normal would make me think that rather than a full short circuit, that the circuit is pulling a current very close to the rating of the fuse and that after a short while the fuse does melt.

Has any other work happened lately, radio's changed, lamps replaced ?

[widdowson2008]

If it fails after a few minutes and its not due to vibration or operating something else, plus the fact that the beep isn't normal would make me think that rather than a full short circuit, that the circuit is pulling a current very close to the rating of the fuse and that after a short while the fuse does melt.

Has any other work happened lately, radio's changed, lamps replaced ?

Sounds logical

[saracen]

This sounds spot on to me. The only question is what can have made it happen - we had a full service done in late June with lots of internal work - but have done a full European tour since then with plenty of reverse and no problems - and some work around the MOT in August, but nothing internal, and again no problems for a good few weeks. It started to happen in association with the starting problems, but didn't go away when they were sorted out. I will update after I have tested again without the beep!

Am I right in thinking I could just remove or cut the reverse beep wire (and that this is the red/yellow one) and keep the other beeps working?

Thanks once again.

[widdowson2008]

Pass - over to the techies

[missfixit70]

This sounds spot on to me. The only question is what can have made it happen - we had a full service done in late June with lots of internal work - but have done a full European tour since then with plenty of reverse and no problems - and some work around the MOT in August, but nothing internal, and again no problems for a good few weeks. It started to happen in association with the starting problems, but didn't go away when they were sorted out. I will update after I have tested again without the beep!

Am I right in thinking I could just remove or cut the reverse beep wire (and that this is the red/yellow one) and keep the other beeps working?

Thanks once again.

Just unplug it to test it for the moment, but if you want to cut it, on mine it was an orange wire for the reverse & white wire for the key in ignition beep. You can also disable these I think by undoing the connector under the steering cowl, all described in the link I posted earlier in the thread

[saracen]

thanks Kirsty - sorry to be so slow! I'll see what results I can get...
Gill

[g8dhe]

Just pull the plug off of the Beeper module down in the footwell as a starter as Kirsty says see her links, try to avoid cutting wires as there are two wires going to that particular socket and its been quite common to find that the colour of wires changes and doesn't always match the diagrams either!

My best guess at them moment is that you might find the problem with the reversing lights, check the actual bulbs and also check all the lights as a common fault is for an earth wire to go high resistance and then very strange faults can appear, a bit like this one.....

[saracen]

Hello - back again with an update now I've had time to devote to the beast.
I successfully - eventually - disconnected the beep box down by the accelerator. Same problem - the number 9 fuse goes after just under a minute in reverse gear. I also managed to disconnect the white connector underneath the steering wheel - this was when I was giving up on the beep box as I just couldn't get it to disconnect. Same problem. So I don't think it can be the beep.
I turned to your other suggestion g8dhe (sorry, don't know your name!) - thanks so much for this. The passenger side reversing light was not working, the driver side one was fine. I swapped the bulb from passenger side to driver side and it worked fine there. So this looks like a distinct possibility - that there is an electrical problem to do with the passenger side reversing light as you suggested. Could you advise what to do next? Is there a way for me to check the earth wire and amend the problem?
I am beginning to enjoy my delvings into the Bongo, in a curious way and now want to get this sorted myself if I can! Your help as ever is very much appreciated.
Cheers
Gill

[daveblueozzie]

might be just a simple fix as cleaning the contacts on the bulb holder, also check there are no bare wires or trapped wires behind the light fitting.
Do you have a tow bar fitted ? scotch blocks connections.

[g8dhe]

Could you advise what to do next? Is there a way for me to check the earth wire and amend the problem?
I am beginning to enjoy my delvings into the Bongo, in a curious way and now want to get this sorted myself if I can! Your help as ever is very much appreciated.

As the problem appears to be excess current being drawn, and the bulb is not lighting, my best guess is that the wires have been trapped/damaged behind the rear light bock - unless you also have a towbar and electrics fitted ? - and is being shorted to earth/chassis. So start by removing the lights and examining all the wires especially where they might rub or get squashed. You should do this on both light housings both the nearside and offside as its possible the wire will go to first the offside and then the nearside or it might split earlier and go to each side individually. If you do have towbar electrics fitted then you will have extra connections on the wires as well which again can be the problem again you will need to follow all the wiring thru as it could be at any point along the loom.

If you have a multi-meter then it might be worth putting it onto a current range of at least 20Amps or greater and replacing the fuse with the meter leads, check the current when you select reverse it should be less than about 5 Amps (thats a guess, as I don't actually know what might be switched via the ECU itself) when working correctly (I suspect it will be a lot higher with the fault showing circa 15Amps)- don't leave Reverse selected ! Then carry out the checks in the paragraph above, whilst the light blocks are unscrewed check the current again if its has dropped then that will be the cause.

To get the rear light blocks out unscrew the two screws under the tailgate and then pull the top of the unit towards you a little and then slide the unit sideways to the side of the van as the lower clip stops it coming off backwards!

If that doesn't locate the problem report back here with whatever you have found.

[saracen]

hello, just to update - since getting the rear light units off and poking about in them to check if the lights worked, everything has been fine I reckon I (by chance) moved the requisite wire which is now behaving itself. Have been really busy recently with no time to get back in there with meter and check it out properly, but intend to do so just to be on the safe side and because I've got to quite like finding out how it all works. Still, all is now well and I can't thank everyone enough for all the assistance. You're brilliant!
cheers
Gill

[missfixit70]

A good firkle'll often sort out an intermittent wiring problem without knowing why Be good to know for sure, but don't be surprised if it remains a bit of an unknown