I own a 98 Cherokee Sport automatic. So the history of this problem I think began when I removed some cheap aftermarket fog lights. About a week after removing them, this 15A fuse in the Power Distribution Center blew. I went back and pulled the wires. Replaced the fuse and it was fine for about a week or so...blew again and have not found the source of the issue. I have since found a few other cut wires in different locations and capped them off with electrical tape thinking this might be the problem. I assume it could be a ground wire somewhere but have no idea where to start.
Has anyone else had this issue or shed some light on how to resolve?
Sorry my electrical skills are not up to par and my guess is this is probably some simple issue I have overlooked.


Thanks

 

When fuse blows does Jeep not stat ?

 

Sorry I should have explained. The Jeep starts and runs fine however this fuse runs the instrument panel so I have no gauges working. As soon as the fuse is placed in, it pops. You can't even insert the fuse.

 

Whats fuse number

 

I do not know. I tried to google a PDC diagram but came up with only the inside fuse panel one.

 

Did ya look inside the cover to the pdc box ?

 

Yes there is no number associated with this 15A fuse. Of the cluster of 12 it is the one on the bottom right hand corner.

 

Thiis it......

 

No 16 .

 

Bottom right of this photo.

 

No 16 ...

 

Ok so what are my next steps?

 

Check area that fuse powers for issues resulting in short causing issue with fuse.

 

What is TCM and Junction Block?

 

TCM is the Transmission Control Module and the PDC is the Power Distribution Center (where the IOD fuse is).

The TCM rarely causes the IOD fuse to blow.

There are several circuits that are powered through the IOD. Most of which are interior lights (dome light, courtesy lamps, etc, but also the radio and underhood lamp).

The most troublesome is the cargo bay light circuit. Power from the IOD goes through the cargo bay lamp switch to the liftgate switch. The wiring going to the liftgate switch has been found chafed and shorted to ground where the wires go over the top of the liftgate through the looms. Some wiring was found bad in the liftgate itself.

You can start by removing the lens off the cargo bay lamp and disconnect the connector there (see if the connector or switch is melted or if the wires are chafed). This will interrupt power going to the liftgate switch circuit. If the fuse does not blow with this connector unplugged you can start looking for chafed wires in/or around the liftgate looms.

If the fuse continues to blow with the cargo lamp switch disconnected it will require unplugging other components and plugging them in one at a time to see which blows the fuse.