Harness short? 60amp blowing

[Roha]

Hello,
My 94 sidekick is blowing the main 60 amp fuse, even with key off and just about every connector I can find on the thing pulled, all fuses and relays.

Am I right in thinking that there should be no current through that fuse with key off?
And that I must have a short in the main harness somewhere?

If so, are there some common trouble spots I should check first?

Thanks for any help with this one!
Rob

[fixkick]

Hello,
My 94 sidekick is blowing the main 60 amp fuse, even with key off and just about every connector I can find on the thing pulled, all fuses and relays.

94 , 8v or 16v?


Am I right in thinking that there should be no current through that fuse with key off? yes, only .010amps , near zero. must ECU memory and radio memory uses power, key off.

And that I must have a short in the main harness somewhere? Yes you have a short, the fuse stopped the fire.

If so, are there some common trouble spots I should check first?

Thanks for any help with this one!
Rob

i need to know exactly which fuse.

here is the most common setup, the 60amp on left blows when the alternator internal diodes short , remove the big alt wire, and tape it off, short gone.
do so with battery neg lug off, pull alt big wire, then put back battery lug. (no boom)
as you can see pulling the other engine bay fuse box 3 large fuses kills the cab box. 100% see second link below for full schem.

http://www.fixkick.com/Charging/charge89.jpg (shows only alt path)

full deal.
http://www.fixkick.com/power-elect/95%20...istra1.pdf

[Roha]

Great info and much better schematics than I had, thank you!

So, the short seems to have resolved itself at some point during my futzing about... very worrisome, but I'll take it for now. I hooked everything back up and get normal behavior at the fuse in question (yes, you had the right one). No crank. Jumped the starter terminals and no action. Pulled it and the solenoid is fine, but not the starter motor. I'll replace that and let you know how it goes.
If there's any chance the short and the starter trouble are one and the same, I'll be thrilled.
1994 16V A/T
Rob

[fixkick]

Great info and much better schematics than I had, thank you!

So, the short seems to have resolved itself at some point during my futzing about... very worrisome, but I'll take it for now. I hooked everything back up and get normal behavior at the fuse in question (yes, you had the right one). No crank. Jumped the starter terminals and no action. Pulled it and the solenoid is fine, but not the starter motor. I'll replace that and let you know how it goes.
If there's any chance the short and the starter trouble are one and the same, I'll be thrilled.
1994 16V A/T
Rob

not the same for starter, becauses it has no fuse
but yes for starter solenoid can blow the other big fuse, in same box. the 50amp, see this drawing, to see that path.
see fuse on right.
http://www.fixkick.com/nostart_files/starting-1w.jpg

if the left 60 blows. its Alternator or harness short.