fuse blowing on 2001 Expedition

[CAMFLIGHTRN]

This fuse controls the interior lights, power windows, and the brake pedal shifter release. I noticed the problem when the vehicle would not shift out of park.

I replaced #15 fuse (5amp) and everything worked fine however several hours later with the vehicle simply parked the fuse blew again.

Appears to be a "short" of some kind but it seems to take several hours for the fuse to blow.

Any thoughts?

[Davescort97]

You may be right about the short. To find what is shorting out and blowing the fuse you could take the + battery cable off and put a test light between the + battery post and the + cable end. If the light is lit up you have a draw on the battery which may be blowing the 5 amp fuse. If you have a volt-ohm meter you could put the selector on amps and measure the amperage draw on the battery putting it between the + cable end and the + battery post. The dome light and the brake lights (shift release) are hot at all times so you should focus on them. It seems to me that a 5 amp fuse is too small for power windows. Mine is 30 amps. Still, it shouldn't burn out just sitting there. I would tell you to put in a higher amp fuse, but if you did it might not blow the fuse and instead drain your battery until it is dead.

[mustangmike351c]

unplug the the pressure switch on the master cylinder. if it is soaked in brake fluid clean the plug with brake cleaner and change the sensor. Thats your short. If thats dry then check you sun visors move them up and down and see if the fuse blows

[CAMFLIGHTRN]

You are awesome Mustang Mike,

The pressure switch you refer to is the cruise control de-activation switch and it was soaked in brake fluid as you predicted. As soon as I touched the connector it sparked and smoked and practically caught fire. as it turns out this has been on the Ford recall list since August 2006. I disconnected the switched and have made an appointment with the Ford dealer to have the switch and harness replaced.

Thanks again man. This forum is awesome!!

Camflightrn

[FixYourLAN]

MustangMike you were right again, mine started out blowing the #15 fuse one time when I was not even in the truck. I got in to start it later and could not get it out of park, found if I turned off the key and back on and turned it just a bit and got it in the right place I could shift it into neutral and start it, but the no power to the windows, flip windows, front windshield wipers and washer, probably rear too, but didn't try them. At first it only blew fuses about once a week for a few weeks, then a dead shot and blew them on insertion with the car off or on didn't matter!

I hunted for shorts, thought it was the $300-500 GEM module till I read your post! I unplugged the switch and put in a new fuse and it didn't blow, new switch at auto parts about $25 and didn't have to take it to the Dealer!

Thanks Again!

[MeanGrnJoe]

Mustang Mike, Thanks for the fix.....