Re: Fuse blowing UBERWGN

[Dave Head <dhead@sundial.sundial.net>]

At 11:04 AM 3/12/96 CST, you wrote:
>UBERWGN (my 95.5 S6 Avant) continues to blow one or two fuses
>intermittently.  Neither I nor the dealer can make it happen when we
>want it to happen.  It seems to happen only after a period of idling,
>or usage of the interior lights/radio with the engine off.  Happens
>about once a week.  The fuse that powers the interior lights, gas gage,
>etc. is the common one that blows.  You can replace the fuse
>immediately, and it will then refuse to blow again.
>
>So we're trying to figure out how to isolate the problem.  One idea is
>to wire some in-line fuses in front of each component on this circuit,
>and see which one blows.  Another is to just disconnect non-critical
>components until the problem goes away.  Of course, we could just go
>replacing components too, but that's too expensive.
>
>Anybody else got any good ideas about how to isolate a transient
>problem like this?
>

Call around to some auto electrical places - Fluke (volt-ohmmeter
manufacturer) makes several high end ($300.00 and up) meter that can be
hooked up for extended periods of time to read voltage/current spikes. I've
done it on Navy ships on 400Hz and 60Hz systems to isolate intermittent
faults and interference. It will then tell you when it occured, how long the
spike existed before the fuse blew, etc... Hook a few up to different
circuits in the car, drive for a few days, and you'll get an answer...
You'll have to get a dealer/AoA agreement to farm it out, but its doable!
********************************AUDI FAN******************************
EMCM(SW) Dave Head
87 5KCSTQ 170K miles and counting...
1.8 bar boost - @ 1.3 the shuttle launches
Maitland FL
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