Schneic6

I've read several threads regarding the condenser fan fuse blowing, and it seems like it's a pretty easy problem to troubleshoot. Most people say the first step should be to check the wiring, but the problem is that I don't really know where all the ground wires are and I'm not the greatest with wiring diagrams. That being said, I noticed that I have (what I believe to be) an engine ground wire that is completely severed, coming from right around the head. I haven't had any issues electrically, so I figure it's grounded somewhere else and I'm going to replace it anyway of course, but I'm just wondering if it could be a contributor to my fuse that keeps blowing. Also, I'm aware that my fan is disconnected in the picture Any input is appreciated, and thanks in advance.

Former User

What car? See forum Rules sticky.

Post a picture of blown fuse's location in the fuse box.

A bad ground wire won't cause a fuse to blow, even though you need to replace the severed one in the picture.

If you unplug the condenser fan and compressor, does the fuse still blow?

Schneic6

Ahh my apologies, forgot to say that its a '98 DX. The fuse in question is the 20 Amp one that is currently missing at the top of the picture.

When I had the fan unplugged, I ran the car for about 5 minutes and the fuse was fine. However, when I plugged the fan in and turned the car back on, the fuse blew within 10 seconds. I should have just tried that first I suppose, but I wanted to make sure the ground wire was unrelated.

So, where do I go from here? Is it a pretty good chance the fan itself is bad, or should I do some more tests before concluding anything? In my mind, it seems like the fan is a safe bet as the culprit. It looks to be original, and I can't find any receipts of a replacement. Previous owner was the only other owner and kept very detailed records of everything.

Thanks again!

Former User

A quick look at the circuit for 20A hood fuse 56 reveals that the fuse protects both the condenser fan and compressor clutch.