GU Electrical Problems after Steinbauer Installation

Submitted: Monday, Nov 20, 2006 at 20:10

ThreadID: 39629 Views:3904 Replies:1 FollowUps:1

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Member - TonyG (Qld)

Hi All,

Could anyone help me solve this electrical problem I have, and best solution to fix.

This is following previous posts I had with Tim (Vic)

Situation

- Car is GU III 3.0 ltr Patrol
- Upper Rear brake & taillights wired into original taillights
- Autotron Cruise Control installed (& I think wired up to tail light circuit)
- Over last 12 months, have blown 3 x tail light 10 amp fuses
- Blew tail light fuse last week.
- Only had spare 20 amp fuse, so installed into the fuse box for tail lights
- Then install Steinbauer to car & 40km later car stops after driving along freeway with cruise control turned on.
- Come to end of freeway, and turn cruise control off (power off from button on steering wheel)
- 200m later the engine stops, and can not restart car
- Turns out it is a blown 20 amp fuse under the bonnet that goes to ECU. The blown fuse stopped the fuel pump pumping fuel to the engine.
- Get new fuse installed. This time install 15amp fuse
- Drive along freeway again with no cruise control, and all works fine.
- Steinbauer works great, car goes heaps better with heaps more power.

So My Questions Are:

- Would cruise control cause ECU fuse to blow?
- Is it just a coincidence between Steinbauer & blown fuse?
- Should I get cruise control put onto another circuit, so not drawing so much current as I have extra rear lights?

All suggestions greatly appreciated

Thanks

TonyG

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Reply By: GaryInOz (Vic) - Monday, Nov 20, 2006 at 20:26

Monday, Nov 20, 2006 at 20:26

"Should I get cruise control put onto another circuit, so not drawing so much current as I have extra rear lights?"

ABSOLUTELY!!! Ideally a separately fused line directly from the switched side of the IGN switch.

If you ever REALLY need to take power from a circuit in the vehicle, try to make it something inconsequential such as the cigarette lighter or radio, not brake lights, headlights, windscreen wipers, ABS, ECU, etc., that are guaranteed to stop your vehicle or affect its on road safety.

So many vehicles these days have "safety interlocks" throughout their electrical systems, that it is better and safer in the long run to add extra circuits for accessories rather than "steal" power from other circuits and overloading them.

AnswerID: 205966

Follow Up By: Chaz - Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 01:08

Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 at 01:08

Hi Tony,
Gary is right, you have already loaded up your tail light circuit by fitting the additional lamps without the added load of the cruise control. Also the cables going to the lamps were only ever meant to handle 10amps, so by fitting larger fuses you run the risk of burning out wiring.
I went down a similar road when I fitted all my rear lights up including reverse and indicators. When I used the hazard lights and hooked up the trailer I too blew the fuses including the brake light fuse and then couldn’t get it out of Park.
I have since replaced most of my exterior lamps with LED bulbs. They use 1/10th of the power and I have now gone back to standard size fuses.
Chaz

FollowupID: 465981