Fuse number ten (coolant sensor, O2 sensor, a couple solenoids) keeps blowing

Tiny
GROTEONE
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 SATURN ION
  • 170,000 MILES
My Fuse number ten in the engine box has blown twice now. The first time it happened, the coolant level indicator and check engine light turned on simultaneously. The second time, the coolant level indicator light turned on, with the check engine light following after ten miles. Is it possible that a bad coolant level sensor is causing the fuse to blow?
Saturday, January 21st, 2017 AT 1:14 AM

6 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,475 POSTS
Possible, but I would check the wiring that goes to the oxygen sensors. Being that it runs near the exhaust system it is likely that a tie wrap or clip failed and the harness hit the hot exhaust and is grounding out now and then because the wire insulation is melted, causing the fuse to blow.
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Saturday, January 21st, 2017 AT 2:35 AM
Tiny
GROTEONE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Will do. Thank you so much!
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Saturday, January 21st, 2017 AT 3:19 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,475 POSTS
Please let us know how the repair turns out as it may help others with similar problems.
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Saturday, January 21st, 2017 AT 3:54 PM
Tiny
GROTEONE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
An update: In addition to the check engine light and the coolant level sensor being on, my battery light turned on, the dashboard lights dimmed, and the airbag light flashed a couple times. Figuring that I had a bigger problem than I could handle on my own, I brought the car to the mechanic.

They found that the wiring near an O2 sensor had lost insulation and was grounding out - kudos to you for the excellent guess!

They charged me to replace both O2 sensors and the alternator - does that make sense to you? I can see how one O2 sensor had to be replaced, and maybe the second as well because they have to both be replaced as a pair? Or maybe the shorting broke both sensors? I can also see how a bad alternator would cause the battery problem, but I wonder the wiring shorting out could have done the same thing. I guess the shorting could have affected the alternator as well.
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Friday, February 3rd, 2017 AT 7:31 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
The o2 sensors don't have to be replaced in pairs I have replaced plenty of just the upstream ones that are screwed into the exhaust manifolds on those cars. As far as the battery light a bad alternator would cause that and the lights to dim from the alternator not charging.
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Friday, February 3rd, 2017 AT 12:20 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,475 POSTS
Most of the time the wiring harnesses run together so if one wire gets damaged it's likely that others do as well. In your case the O2 sensor heater harness wires run together. The alternator issue is likely due to the shorting wires causing a problem with voltage spikes.
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Friday, February 3rd, 2017 AT 12:21 PM

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