PANEL FUSE BLOWS IN ABOUT A MINUTE AFTER YOU START DRIVING.

Tiny
YATARETEP
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  • 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • 88,734 MILES
1999 CAMRY LE 2.2L 5SFE 4 DOOR POWER WINDOWS/DOOR LOCKS/SEAT. CAR SET IN DRIVEWAY FOR 3 YEARS FOR WANT OF CYLINDER HEAD REPAIR. FINALLY REPLACED HEAD AND CAR RUNS FINE BUT DEVELOPED BLOWN PANEL FUSE AFTER DRIVING ABOUT A MINUTE. WAS OKAY BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. PUT IN DRIVE AND SHORTLY AFTER FUSE BLOWS THEN SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND ODOMETER QUIT WORKING. WHEN KEY FIRST TURNED ON ALL PANEL ITEMS APPEAR. WITH FUSE BLOWN, I HAVE NOTHING ON PANEL AND WHEN KEY FIRST TURNED NOTHING ON PANEL WORKS. I TURNED ON HEADLIGHTS WITH FUSE BLOWN AND PANEL DOES LIGHT UP. WITH FUSE BLOWN WIPERS, A/C/HEATER, CIG LIGHTER, DOME LIGHT NOT AFFECTED. NOTHING LEFT ON WHEN ENGINE SHUT OFF. ALL WIRING LOOKS NORMAL AND HOOKED UP.I AM 81 YEARS YOUNG AND HAD MECHANIC DO ALL WORK. HE HAS NO ELECTRICAL EXPERIENCE(YET!). YOUR HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. TKS, PETE
Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 5:01 AM

19 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Which specific fuse is blowing? Apart from the gauges, anything else not working?
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 11:11 AM
Tiny
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HI KHLow2008, the panel fuse.
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 2:35 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Do you mean the one marked "Gauge" in the diagram?
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 2:44 PM
Tiny
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Affirmative. A diagram I had seen before called it panel fuse. Sorry.
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 2:56 PM
Tiny
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Everything else working.
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 2:57 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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I just want to be sure so that we don't go barking up the wrong tree. It is also labelled panle fuse.

This fuse is for A/C switch, ashtray illumination, blower witch, clock, lighter illumnations, combination meter, glove box light, hazard switch, O/D main switch, radio and player, rear window defogger switch and rheostat.

There is a short in one of the components or their wiring circuit and this is not going to be easy to handle.

Since shorting only occurs after some time, this could mean a bare wire somewhere is coming into contact with body grounding points and vibrations would result in the circuit getting grounded. Check the wireharness for the dash panel and look out for clamped or bare wireharness.
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 3:09 PM
Tiny
YATARETEP
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There is a panel fuse of 7.5a but gauge fuse 10a is one that is blowing. Clock, radio, hazard lights, etc. All working with blown gauge fuse.
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 3:50 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Sorry my bad. The components linked to this fuse is shown in diagram.
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 3:58 PM
Tiny
YATARETEP
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Just discovered that blown gauge fuse also causes power windows/door locks to not function.
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 4:08 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Yup, that is because the integration relay is not being powered.
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 4:13 PM
Tiny
YATARETEP
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My bad door locks functional. He left key in ignition causing lock malfunction.
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 4:14 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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You need to be checking those components related to the fuse as shown in diagram.
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 4:25 PM
Tiny
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Most of this is greek to us. What is combination meter and where is it located? Does 'generator' mean alternator or something else? What is 'drl main relay' and where is it? Sorry for our ignorance!
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 5:28 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Combination meter - meter cluster where the gauges are.
Generator - alternator.
DRL = Day Time Running Lights, if equipped.
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 5:34 PM
Tiny
YATARETEP
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If there is no bare wire and it's one of the components having an issue how do I check components?

If it's a bare wire how can I track it down?

Since the power window's are also affected when the fuse blows could the power window switch cause the fuse to blow?

I've had the alternator checked at an Autozone and it passed the test, but could there be a problem with it and if so could that blow the fuse?

Could the main relay be having an issue and blowing the fuse?

Since the fuse only blows while driving could the VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor) have a short in it?
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 6:32 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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You would ned to test the circuits to be sure. Try by disconnecting all components and with ignition switch on, replugging each one back. Wiggle the wires and note fif the fuse breaks. Never an easy task locating such problems.

Answer is yes to all your questions.
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 6:37 PM
Tiny
YATARETEP
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I turned the key to the on position and disconnected and connected all sensors on the motor and all wires that connect to the fuse box under the dash.I wiggled each 1 and checked to see if the fuse was blown, it was not.

Like I said the alternator was checked and passed but when I remove the negative from the battery the car shut off. Is this normal?

Also, when I turn on the key to the on position the ABS SOL and ABS motor relays click 3 times. Is this normal?
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 8:31 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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You should never be disconnecting the battery terminals when engine is running. If the alternator is bad, and current surges can fry control modules. Use a voltmeter to test the charging.

Clicking of relays are normal. You need to be wiggling wires near components, not the fuse box. Try shifting to reverse to see if fuse blows.
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Sunday, October 14th, 2012 AT 8:38 PM
Tiny
RAYLOWE2001
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Having the same problem. Was there ever a solution to this?
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Thursday, May 19th, 2016 AT 1:05 PM

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