The 30 amp starter fuse in the engine compartment keeps blowing. This happens only when I try to use the rear defroster. I could just not use the defroster but I live at 9000 feet elevation in CO and winter is coming. The defroster would be helpful. The starter and starter wires all look good. I'm pretty new to and pretty bad at electrical diagnostics. Any advice on where I should look for a short in the rear defroster system? Are there relays that are likely to be bad or is it more likely to be a wiring issue?

 

What is your model year -- they are not all the same.


The defroster/starter solenoid fuse on my '93 is 40 amps not 30. I don't know what other years have and whether this might be your problem.

 

Sorry I thought that the model was listed with my username. It's a 1998 cherokee classic. The 30 amp fuse is labelled as starter/HBL. I guess the HBL stands for heated back light- i.e. rear defroster. That makes sense in that pressing the rear defroster switch causes the fuse to blow. How do i go about checking the rear defroster system for a short? Thanks.