Wiper fuse keeps blowing?

ON my 81 VW Vanagon, the fuse(16amps) going to the windshield wiper motor keeps blowing. I looked at the wiring diagram, just before the fuse is a LOAD REDUCTION RELAY. With engine running, I checked voltage at the fuse box(at the fuse that keeps blowing) 13.9 volts. Should the LOAD REDUCTION RELAY lower the voltage before it gets to the fuse or could it be something on the other side of the fuse blowing it?:banghead:


(BATTERY)-+->(LOAD REDUCTION RELAY)->(FUSE16AMP)-Windshield motor-grd

just about all relays on a car are what they called a load reduction relay. you are taking the current load off the puny wiper switch and transferring it to the relay. basically using 1 amp to control 15amps. as for your problem, if it blows only when the wipers are in operation its probably your motor. it could be a power wire shorted to ground as well. unplug the motor and turn the wipers on... if it still blows then, you know you have a wire issue after the relay but before the motor.

Does it blow as soon as you put it in, or just when you turn the wipers on.

If it blows immediately, you have a short. Trace the wire from the fuse forward through the switch and to the wiper motor looking for cuts or abrasions. If it blows when you turn it on, chances are you have a bad motor that is drawing too many amps.

The load reduction relay (like mazdatech said) is simply there to simplify the high-current part of the circuit. Think of the relay as a remote switch. If you're blowing fuses, look to something after the fuse.