My fuses, my FUSES!! AGH!

[the_ginga_ninja]

After the schlep to Scotland this weekend the 7.5 A fuse for instruments (service indicator, warning lights, temp and fuel gauge etc) just keeps on popping. Tried emergency fix with (I know I should't have but 7.5A are hard to find in petrol stations) 10A fuse, and that blew too. Gone through 3 more 7.5A fuses since as well.

Help please!!!!!

[E30Mark]

Could be your glovebox light. The switches fall apart and short out against the body metal work...

[Brianmoooore]

There's more than one fuse which supplies the instruments.
Do you mean fuse 10?
If so, pull up your gear lever gaiter and find a two pin plug and socket lying by the right hand side of the gear lever.
Unplug it, and see if it cures your problem.
This is the plug to the reverse light swirch on the gearbox, and it's wiring is a very common cause of problems with fuse 10.
Glovebox light is a source of problems, as E30Mark says, but this is on fuse 21 on early cars, and fuse 4 on later cars.

[Brianmoooore]

There's more than one fuse which supplies the instruments.
Do you mean fuse 10?
If so, pull up your gear lever gaiter and find a two pin plug and socket lying by the right hand side of the gear lever.
Unplug it, and see if it cures your problem.
This is the plug to the reverse light swirch on the gearbox, and it's wiring is a very common cause of problems with fuse 10.
Glovebox light is a source of problems, as E30Mark says, but this is on fuse 21 on early cars, and fuse 4 on later cars.

[the_ginga_ninja]

Yup, it's fuse 10.

Although I don't select reverse and STILL it goes. Would this only happen if put in reverse?

[Brianmoooore]

Not neccessarily. Pull the plug - two minute job.

[the_ginga_ninja]

Ok, pulled the plug.

Put in a new fuse.

It's ALIVE!

Then it died

Help!!

(and a plaster please... I hurt me finger)

edit: It always lasts approx 10 seconds before it dies. Then the CD player turns off then on again as it dies. Weird....