2002 Yahama Kodiak 30 Amp fuse blows

[bdalby1]

It's a great machine. but it blew the 30 amp fuse closest to the center ( if your sitting it's the one on the fight ) and blew another after about 2 minutes. Could water in the cig lighter 12 volt adapter cause this? How will I ever track it down? Thanks in advance. I'm a carpenter, not an electrician.

[Raptor8]

yep, water creates a circuit path. I had a guy drop a dime in his once- it about drove us CRAZY! hahaha

Do you have a winch? is it hooked to that circuit [ill bet it is]

lets check that out too.

If so, we always installed a 30A circuit breaker from a car into the winch power line and ran it off the battery. that way it wont blow a fuse or damage any wiring.

If not, you may have found it in the power port.

[DirtDemon]

Raptor8's circuit breaker idea is a good one if you are running a winch. I agree that it is best to run high draw components like that off of their own dedicated circuit. You may be looking for a dead short somewhere, damaged wire grounding out maybe, also, as you were thinking, the water in the socket could do the same thing especially if the water is salty, or there is alot of crap in the socket to begin with. Pure water will not conduct, but as soon as coductive impurities are introduced, the impure water can conduct quite well.

[bdalby1]

Thanks Raptor8 and Dirt Demon.

It rained while we were out with a spotlight plugged in and if that runs off the 30 then I hope the next fuse I plug in holds. I do have a wench but it hasn't worked in a year and I haven't tried to sort it out. I think I'll disconnect both and see what happens. Thanks for the response. I'll never be able to find the short if it is some elusive wire somewhere. Thanks again.

[DirtDemon]

If it does turn out to be a dead short of a wire, you can use a multimeter to test for grounded wires by separating a plug down stream from the affected circuit and touching one of the probes to each wire while touching the other to ground. Set the meter to the continuity setting, when you hit the grounded wire, the meter will either sound or read little to no resistance. It would be best to disconnect the battery when searching for a dead short.

[Ajmboy]

All great suggestions, you have 2 awesome techs helping you out. I used to have a Kodiak and was looking for the manual. That 30 amper...do you know what circuit it's on? If you suspenct the cigarette lighter is causing it from rain water...have you unplugged it to test? Unplug the component and see if the fuse blows. Behind the plastic..

[GEARHEAD01]

I agree with DD and raptor8 I am 90% sure that you are getting a short to ground. It is not very often a winch will do that because it usually causes an open in the windings inside. definately disconnect your battery before testing continuity because it will wreck your multimeter and those aren't cheap, i paid $600.00 for my fluke.The first thing to do is to yes disconnect all aftermarket equipment and then try the fuse. If it does not blow then start hooking up your aftermarket equipment until it blows the fuse then you know which circuit to test and diagnose. I also had my winch on a circuit breaker but when you are doing hard pulling it cuts in and out to much. I would install a continuous duty solenoid. they are rated for 85 amp max. then you will only pull sgnal voltage from your fuse block.

[woody1295]

Hello i see that its one year later but i have recently had the same problem however i replaced the fuse now the diff lock light flashes and the quad wont go over 3 mph. any ideas. the fuse has blown before but i changed it and ran it for a while now this has happened..