"FUSE" flashing at startup/battery drain

Maddog · Post by **Maddog** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 11:54 am

2001 ACR w/ac, has factory am/fm 6 disc changer.

When I get it started, the dash makes a tone, and "FUSE" flashes on the gage cluster. Battery won't hold a charge (have had 2 different batteries in car). Ever since I re-installed the radio/cd player, this has been happening.

What is causing the FUSE flashing?

Battery held a charge before radio was re-installed.

I will uninstall the radio electrical within the next 2 days to see if the issue goes away, and if the battery will hold a charge after that. If that doesn't work, I have no idea where to look (no good at electrical stuff).

Any one have any ideas? Please PM, post here, or email me (below in sig).

Thank you in advance!

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 2:32 pm

If the battery is low, it will flash fuse. It may be the head unit is draining the battery for some reason. I would do what you said, unhook the audio, and see what happens, or do an ignition off draw, to see what is draining the battery.

You will need a multimeter with an ammeter to check tho. Unhook the positive cable from either the battery, or PDC and check draw across the cable to the terminal. There should be some, but not more than an amp or so I would think. I really don't know what normal IOD is.

To check the alternator for a semi short to ground, leave the PDC unhooked, and go from the battery terminal to the cable. (Cable removed from battery.) This has happened to me on another car... corrosion is a bitch.

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 9:59 pm

These cars usually flash fuse when the battery is stone dead beyond any charging or jumping. My SRT even turned on the low side fan, and kept the left turn signal stuck on also.

Maddog · Post by **Maddog** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 11:32 am

Thank you both for your input

Radio is disconnected, and the battery is on the charger. We'll see what happens.

Gotta get this car road worthy again so I stop driving the NYG and get it sold!

Maddog · Post by **Maddog** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:39 am

All is good. Turns out it was the trunk light staying on, but not all the time (was drawing 600ma). Would come on by itself, and turn off by itself, all at random. Weird...
Took the wire off of the trunk latch, and it stopped doing it, so I guess I'll grab a latch next trip to the salvage yard.

Oh, and the NYG is as good as sold - took a deposit on it last nite

Glad cuz I need the money for a new furnace, but sad to see it go.

GT Neon · Post by **GT Neon** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 10:08 am

Was the trunk light the final root cause of the problem coupled with the battery needing to be charged?

Maddog · Post by **Maddog** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 11:12 am

GT Neon wrote:Was the trunk light the final root cause of the problem coupled with the battery needing to be charged?

Yes, it was. All is still good

GT Neon · Post by **GT Neon** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 1:10 pm

I pulled the bulb to solve the problem. Never had a trunk light before so I don't need one now.

Dabuh · Post by **Dabuh** » Tue Feb 21, 2012 8:52 pm

I had this same problem, I had been slamming my trunk to get the light to turn off for like 3 months then I back into someone and its all good now lol.

2GN.ORG