Fuse 21 keeps blowing

[jimmymig]

Hi all my car keeps blowing fuse 21 and dash stops working when I open the doors! Anyone point me in right direction cheers jim

[pukar]

this kept happenening to me.

i think the usual culprit is the glove box light however pacerpete found out that mine was due to the cable for the boot light which had bared where it dissapears into the the bodywork because this is where it keeps moving, and was short circuiting (just follow it back and make sure that the sleeve is intact all along).

hope that helps

[jimmymig]

Cheers will check that out later will let you know how I get on:-D

[Brianmoooore]

Glove box light must be fitted with a bulb to avoid fuse bowing, but is only fed from fuse 21 on early cars. Fed from fuse 4 on later stuff.
Bodged radio wiring is another favourite for blowing 21.

[jimmymig]

Checked for bare wires none found but found a water leak in my a post! Water running down the door harness central locking relay was soaked which stopped working ages ago. Will whip wing off at week end and have a look:-( yet another job on the to do list!

[Brianmoooore]

Water should be running down inside the A post - but it should be inside a plastic pipe. One of four sunroof drain tubes (assuming you have a sunroof) runs down inside the driver's A pillar and discharges inside the sill.

[jimmymig]

Its dripping down from top of a post on to block connector! My glove box light and boot light are missing will that cause the fuse to blow? Ps dose Bmw stand for brian moores wisdom is their nothing you dont know about these old shoe boxes on wheels?

[Brianmoooore]

The construction of the glove box light bulb holder is such that it will tend to short circuit and blow the relevant fuse is left without a bulb fitted.
The steel stub pipes from the sunroof frame, which connect to the plastic pipes, have been known to rust. If this has happened in just the right place, I would think it's likely that water will run down the A pillar itself, outside of the drain tube.

[xavier]

check wires under gearstick boot