My wife's Ford Ka (57 plate) constantly blows a 10 amp fuse (fuse number 2 in the fuse box near the steering wheel). According to the handbook, this fuse powers the interior lamps, clock, radio, and data link connector.

Anyone got any idea what may be causing the problem?

It's due its MOT in a few days and I need to sort the problem without taking it to an auto electrician for hours of expensive diagnosis.

Stephen James, January 2011

Thanks to peesian for an accurate diagnosis. I tried checking the interior light wire at the interior light itself, but had no clue that the wire to it ran behind the dashboard on the side opposite where the offending fuse was.
Well beyond my capability.
The only positive was that my local Ford dealer (Burton on Trent) have a fixed rate for the initial checking of an electrical fault (£99) which they try not to exceed. Apparently this rate was introduced because of diagnosis work taking so long sometimes and costing lots. Unfortunately for me once they had determined which wire it was, there was still quite a bit of dashboard removal etc to fix it.

Stephen James, January 2011

Ended up taking the above car to Ford dealer. They spent two and a half hours (£230) tracing the problem, which was the wire leading to the interior light.
Apparently behind the left side of the dashboard (as you sit in the car) this wire's insulation had partly worn away near a connection and was shorting out. Once it has been re-insulated (with a new bullet connector according to the description on the invoice) it was sorted.
I can honestly say I would never have sorted this one myself.

Stephen James, January 2011

up untill its 3 yrs old its under warranty but most probable cause is interior light shorting

peesian, January 2011

if fitted with cigarette lighter check to see if this is your fault by disconnecting it,

k, January 2011