Fusible Link Problem again

[jbinsure]

Ok, so about 5 weeks ago I posted a problem that I had and received excellent advice regarding the fusible link on my '89 E34. I replaced that, and about 1 week later I started having problems with the instrument cluster. I am still having problems with that as I am not very "electrically" inclined and have not wanted to start messing with circuits and wires.

I noticed the same smell last evening that was present before the fusible link blew. I checked it and it's the smell of the burning conduit and electrical tape that houses the 80 amp fuse. It was extremely hot but just at one end of the fuse. The fuse itself has not blown at this point, but I cannot figure out why it is getting so hot. Do you fellow AF members have any ideas??!! Is the dashboard/instrument cluster possibly causing this problem? Or do you think that they are unrelated?

Any suggestions that you all may have would be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks!
Jeff

[atv087]

my problem that was causing the fuseable link to blow was a bad ground on the radio
so if i were you id definatly check your grounds

[jbinsure]

Originally Posted by atv087

my problem that was causing the fuseable link to blow was a bad ground on the radio
so if i were you id definatly check your grounds

I think that you might be right. Today I went out and smacked the dashboard as I had read in another posting someone had done that, and all of the gauges lit up, the OBC ( I guess that's what it is, the keypad type thing to the left of the radio which has never lit up) all came on. However, I went out this evening and the battery was dead. I jump started, let it run for 10-15 mintues and it starts, but very slowly. So, something must be draining the battery. Could the instrument cluster if it were indeed going out, cause the drain on the battery? Or is it coincidental and I just have a bad battery? Or alternator? Very frustrating. Does anyone know where I can find out how to check the grounds as atv087 suggested? Things with fluid I can fix, but things with wires make me very nervous!!

Interesting thought I had....Recently I noticed a ton of static whenever I tried to turn the volume up on the radio. Bad radio is what I thought, but perhaps it was the ground!?!?!?

Thanks for all of your help!
Jeff

[atv087]

well i have a few things you can check if you smacked the screen thing next to the radio and it worked try popping it out with a flathead screwdriver and make sure no wires are hitting anything and the wires in the back are firmly plugged in. You probaly just have a dead battery though.

hope this helps

[jbinsure]

Originally Posted by atv087

well i have a few things you can check if you smacked the screen thing next to the radio and it worked try popping it out with a flathead screwdriver and make sure no wires are hitting anything and the wires in the back are firmly plugged in. You probaly just have a dead battery though.

hope this helps

Helps more than you know!! Do you think that that would be or could be causing a drain on the battery?

Thanks for your time and info!

[jbinsure]

Originally Posted by jbinsure

Helps more than you know!! Do you think that that would be or could be causing a drain on the battery?

Thanks for your time and info!

Hi

I actually smacked the top of the dashboard above the instrument gauges. Could there be a short in the instrument cluster that could cause the battery to drain??

Help and suggestions are much appreciated!!

Thanks
Jeff