Hi folks
Anyone experience a fuse continually blowing in an Omega ? Mine's a '95 CDX 2.5TD.
The fuse is f15, rated at 15A, and used (it seems) for a lot of the 'toys' in the car - windows, sunroof, mpg-computer, reverse-gear-switch, bulb-health-monitor, dash gauges (incl. speedometer !) etc. As soon as I turn the ignition key, the fuse blows. I have removed all other fuses and relays and just tried this one fuse plugged in - it still blows. I've put a 20A fuse in there, and that blows too. I've unplugged all of the lights at the rear of the car and tried - fuse still blows.
I've done a search of this forum for answers (and jeez, what a lot of Omega articles) but haven't found an answer. I am pretty good mechanically, but electrics are a bit of a mystery to me. The Haynes manual includes a wiring diagram which is useful, but doesn't show where diesel-related parts might be (eg. filter heater).
Anyone have any ideas ? Sorry if this is an FAQ - the car has been great so far, but I'm stuck now.
Thanks
Frank
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BTW - I should say that I've search the rear of the car for broken or chaffed wiring, but found nothing.
Someone told me "Omegas always have electrical problems around the rear lights" so that's why I was searching at the rear of the car.
Frank
Frank Smyth
'95 Vauxhall Omega CDX 2.5TD
'96 Mazda MX5 1.8 turbo
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You could try connecting an ammeter across the fuse contacts to get an idea of the actual current being drawn.
This might give a clue as to whether you are looking for a short, or a failed component that is drawing an excessive current.
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Look at a wiring diagram, find out what items fuse F15 supplies,
If it is blowing all the time then it is being caused by a device that is Live as soon as the ignition is turned on (ie not a window motor etc). Disconect each device in turn untill you find the faulty one, if the fuse still fails with all the loads in the circuit disconnected start to look for a wiring insulation failure. Not an easy excersise but you may find the fault straight away so worth a go.
Finding earth faults is not the most enjoyable job in the world but 9/10 times it will turn out to be a faulty device.
Thanks
Andy
PS - Did anything in the car stop working before the fuse failed.
PSS - Be VERY carefull about uprating the fuse as you are likely to damage the remaining wiring by exceeding its design rating.
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Thanks for the ideas, guys.
I was hoping someone would say that there's a "known problem" with Omegas where they blow fuses like that, but that would be too easy...
Q. did anything stop working before the fuse failed
A. the bulb monitor was saying that one of the tail bulbs was failed for a few days before the failure. However, one bulb was flickering/intermittantly bad, so I thought that was that. I didn't replace the bulb until after the fuse started blowing.
The devices hanging off that fuse are: alarm/immobiliser, radio, dash computer, dash gauges, sunroof (secondary), windows (secondary), aircon, cruise control, reversing-lights, and diesel filter heater.
The only thing is that the Haynes manual does not cover diesels, so I will have my work cut out searching for the filter heater. I've looked at the filter housing and can't see any wiring attached. Also, it's not clear where to find the bulb-monitor device. I assume it's behind the dash.
Frank Smyth
'95 Vauxhall Omega CDX 2.5TD
'96 Mazda MX5 1.8 turbo
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Frank
Something sticks in my mind about reversing light switches, but I guess they would be the older type which was a simple fitting on the gearbox. Yours could be more complicated, but you could still disconnect any multi way plugs on the gearbox to prove the point.
It does sound like a 'hard' fault ie not caused by an occasional chafing wire.
I don't suppose any of the operating switches for windows/sunroof are 'jammed on' / faulty?
Radios usually have their own fuse, so perhaps you can discount that.
It is going to be difficult to do but you are going to have to disconnect items one by one, with a supply of fuses to hand. Be careful if you use an ammeter, you may end up melting part of the loom.
Good luck with this problem.
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Thanks Percy - I have one 15A fuse left out of a 10-pack I bought, so I'll try removing the reverse-switch and see if it's earthing. If it isn't, I'll plug that last fuse in and see how it goes.
At this stage, I'm going to have to fix it quickly or else give the car to Vauxhall or an electrician (which pains me, as I always do all my own car work)
I'll reply to this thread to close it off either way !
Thanks again
Frank
Frank Smyth
'95 Vauxhall Omega CDX 2.5TD
'96 Mazda MX5 1.8 turbo
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Frank,
If its of any help, the rear light clusters simply unplug - so unplugging then will eliminate the clusters themselves. Have you had any bulb fail recently? I ask as the bulbs are supposed to fit one way only, but the O/S one will fit either way round - causing a suspect connection.
The radio can be pulled, that will eliminate that, the sunroom mechanism will also unplug.
I suspected my bulb failure device but couldn't find it - my dealer couldn't tell me where it was either! On the other hand it wasn't that and several dealers told me they had never had one fail - ever.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on.
Best Regards ....... Robert
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Forgot to say that the cruise control on the 2.5TD is part of the ECU - so there isn't a cruise control unit - wehich there is for the Petrol cars.
HTH .....
Robert
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Frank,
From what you're saying, this fuse operates equipment with the ignition off (radio, alarm, etc) but only blows when you turn on the ignition. A suggestion would be to check the map reading lights in the interior light cluster, as these only become live with the ignition on.
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i would check for chafing on the fuel filter housing with the fuel heater wiring. this is on all the time the ign is on.
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We had one of these with the exact same problem a while back, turned out to be a coin that had 'fallen' into the cigar lighter shorting it out!
Happiness is a T70 at full chat!
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Any progress Frank?
Happiness is a T70 at full chat!
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Hey Andrew
No, nothing too conclusive. I unplugged the sunroof, the courtesy lights, the rear light clusters, and the cigarette lighter (rear). The front cigarette lighter looked fine.
I then unplugged all the fuses and relays under the dash, and left the relays & few fuses under the bonnet alone (they are unidentified on the diesel and not mentioned in the manual).
Still, the fuse blew upon going to position one on the key (accessory position).
I then unplugged as many of the relays under the bonnet as possible (but had to leave a couple in as they were stuck hard). Upon turning the key, no problems arose ! Turning to position 2 (where all the diagnostics on the dash light up) the fuse blew. I ran out of fuses at that point, so couldn't narrow down which relay was at fault. In any case, neither the Haynes manual nor the Omega handbook identify those relays so I can't tell which components are at fault (I'm hoping it might just be a dodgy relay :-) but it now looks like something under the bonnet is at fault. Could be an AC component, or whatever. If I had a decent manual, I could delve in but Haynes don't cover the diesel.
I guess with the fuses out, the front cigarette lighter is effectively "unplugged" but in any case, I will give it one more go this weekend with that and the radio (and the bulb failure module if I can find it !) unplugged.
The car is now booked into Vauxhall for Monday morningfor troubleshooting. If I can suss it this weekend, great; if not, we'll have closure either way on Monday (I hope) minus some £££ from the oul wallet !
I'll update youse on Tuesday either way.
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Well, the car's back (and my wallet is lighter to the tune of ?339 --> STG£212 in labour).
The problem turned out to be a cable-tie on the wiring-loom from the ECU going around the intake manifold. This had chaffed the cable and broke a couple of wires. The cabling looked fine from the outside but was broken internally.
All fixed now, and I'm mighty happy. Except that whatever method they used in their troubleshooting, a couple of bulbs behind the dash have blown out. Not good news, as to get behind the dials, I have to removed the airbag & steering wheel, just to undo a couple of screws !
Also, the electric windows work, except that the one-touch open or close is only working on the driver's side. No biggie, but I'll have to figure that out.
Thanks again for all the advice - I did as much as I could, what with removing components and circuits, and even examined all the under-bonnet wiring.
Frank
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It sounds like your windows need reprogramming. Usually all this means is holding the switch down in the up position until you hear a "click" a second or two later. With the ignition on of course!
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Looking back in the thread I see you had a Vaux dealer do the repair. I am surprised they didn't reprogram the elec windows for you when they finished the job. Anyway, as Archie mentions, close the windows, then hold the button down for a couple of seconds. Repeat for each window.
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See Robert's thread re replacing instrument panel bulbs without removing the steering wheel. He's done a step by step guide.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=i&t=79...7
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Forget replacement fuses.
Best way is to fix low wattage bulb across fuse holder, then instead of fuse blowing, lamp will light.You can "jiggle",disconnect, replace components til light goes out...you have then found your faulty circuit.
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My Vauxhall Omega 2.0 16v also now keeps blowing fuse 15. Does seem to be a common problem after all!
Anyway, I got the AA (in the UK) to come out and have a look at it. No luck, he was very good and found out what it 'could' be. - Either electric seats or the cigarette lighter?
This morning I have taken it into my local garage (I got there eventually after the car failing 3 times and finally when I actually arrived at the garage! lol I did not even have to turn the ignition off). The car basically kept dying and I had to put it into park, then lock/unlock the doors to reset the immobiliser so I could drive the rest of the way to the garage in the rain!!
Now I am back home and my Omega is in Hospital. They apparently are going to take it to an electrician (They are a local garage and not Vauxhall). I told them the car would fail alot if they do drive it, so that should be fun, especially in this weather!
I hope not to pay too much for it, as my TV also broke yesturday!
I will keep you all updated and how they fixed it...
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Hi my car is back! It was the front cigarette lighter, it just needed to be unplugged as their is a fault with it. They said they can get a new one but to leave it unplugged for a while in case it is anything else. So far, its ok. So I might get a Cigarrette lighter (a new one). The garage charged me 30 pounds only. Quite good considering they had the car almost the whole day.
I have had a few problems with my Omega, I am seriously thinking about getting another car such as the FIAT CINQUECENTO S. I am unsure as whether the Fiat would have just as much problems as my Omega has though. I am looking at a 1994 Fiat.
Any ideas?
Matt
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Well....swapping a very big Vauxhall omega for a very small Fiat 500 sounds a little bit odd; very very different cars.
In terms of reliability / repair costs than it's probably out of the frying pan into the fire, particularly on an 11 year old Fiat. I continue to drive Omegas ( I'm on my third) on the 'better the devil you know' basis; and they are at least a cheap gamble in reliability terms.
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I am going to keep my Omega for now. A friend of mine has told me its best, also it might come in handy this winter if there is any snow around, as there is a snow button by my autobox (and I now the snow button works as a friend has used it before and it's like being in a 4x4 - as long as you drive slow and carefull with the snow button on).
My car is like a tank now. I actually call it 'The Tank'. My friends call it 'The Beast'. lol
Mat
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