IGN E fuse continually blowing?

Tiny
CLOWEGREEN
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 GMC SIERRA
  • 5.3L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 310,000 MILES
So for about a couple months I'd be driving down a road somewhere and the A/C is blowing cold and typically when it's really hot outside and the truck starts trying to overheat (but never seriously) the A/C would start blowing hot. Well I decided one day to pull over, turn the truck off and then back on and for a while now about a month or so that itself would get it to blowing cold again, then I had starter I had to replace and a water pump, it's been a month or two since that. Well now about a week ago I found my ign e fuse blown and not able to start truck unless I bypassed the starter relay with a wire, which is what I've had to do every time all week long. And without having that ign e fuse in and not blowing every time a new one is put in, I have no cold A/C, no turn signals (but my hazards still work) my tachometer gauge won't work. Just today I invested in a multimeter to make figuring this out a lot easier but I've never used one but have become familiar with what all the things mean on it. I don't know how to go about the process of elimination checks. Please help. I also found some wiring diagrams on AutoZone's website for my vehicle but I might end up buying the repair manual.
Tuesday, June 10th, 2025 AT 6:14 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,144 POSTS
Okay, there are three items on this circuit, the AC compressor relay which I think it the problem, the clutch coil on the front of the compressor goes out and shorts the fuse. You can unplug the compressor and drive it around to see if the fuse blows. The other items is the instrument cluster, neutral safety switch and the turn signal switch. Here is instructions on how to use the voltmeter in case you need it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Wednesday, June 11th, 2025 AT 8:45 AM
Tiny
CLOWEGREEN
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
I also noticed today on my way back from work that when I'm driving around daily I notice my voltage gauge shows 15- 16 volt reading. Which I thought was normal but googled it and I guess it's overcharging. And what diagram is that you sent? I was finally able to get to access a Chilton repair manual, and it has all kinds of stuff but the diagrams I have got show this, keep in mind this is my first time ever messing with an electrical side of mechanic work so thanks for all the help you can give.
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Wednesday, June 11th, 2025 AT 4:39 PM
Tiny
CLOWEGREEN
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Also do you have a link that helps someone understand how to read wiring diagrams and schematics? Like even just a legend for symbols would help a lot.
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Wednesday, June 11th, 2025 AT 5:06 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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You can see in the first wiring diagram it is the same as the one I posted. I would try unplugging the A/C compressor and replace the fuse to see if it blows again. I would search google for a guide to help you understand wiring diagrams, we do have a guide to help you with testing the wiring.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
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Thursday, June 12th, 2025 AT 8:33 AM
Tiny
CLOWEGREEN
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  • 9 POSTS
UPDATE: SO I had took out noth o2A and o2B fuses, and drove a day or 2 and then I stopped to get more 10a fuses to put in IGN E fuses and with the o2 fuses out I tried with a new IGN E fuse in and it started and everything has working fine for 2 days now, that day I also got how and recalibrated my ac system and it is now working just fine again. I ran a obd2 test and im getting these codes:
P0304
P0137
P0157
Now on the misfire code I just replaced that same spark plug just a month ago and the old one did look pretty bad. Another thing I noticed today which it has been doing for a few months now(ever since having the ac start randomly blowing cold), so if I drive it for 30-60 minutes on a hot day and then the next morning or even sometimes just after stopping a store and it being off for 15 minutes, I'll get back in and start it up and a whiteish maybe greyish light smoke starts coming into cabin from ac vents and its so strong smelling it can almost choke you up so I have to cover my mouth and nose with shirt and roll my windows down cause its strong.
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Saturday, June 14th, 2025 AT 4:54 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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So what did you do to fix the IGN E fuse problem? We only handle one problem per thread, please post your new question here, you must be logged in.

https://www.2carpros.com/questions/new

Cheers, Ken
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Sunday, June 15th, 2025 AT 10:16 AM
Tiny
CLOWEGREEN
  • MEMBER
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Well that's the thing, I didn't really do anything except leave the ign e fuse out for 2 days and finally stopped to get a box of fuses and popped one in and started the truck, the next morning I did the recalibration process for the HVAC system, and since then it's not blowing the fuse anymore, could something either like melting wire or a blend door actuator binding up or even the clutch on the compressor faulting cause a short that blows that fuse.
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Sunday, June 15th, 2025 AT 10:46 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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This still can be the clutch coil, they can go bad intermittently. Keep an eye on it and if it starts going it again I would unplug the clutch coil to confirm.
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Sunday, June 15th, 2025 AT 11:19 AM

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