Serious electrical problem!!

HI,

I think i have come to the right spot, any way I have a major electrical problem.

I have a 200tdi land rover defender

Firstly the answer to this could be "how long is a piece of string??"

Problem
The fuse for the dashboard lights/indicator/stop tail keeps blowing, it is rated at 10amps. thus if blown no indicator or stop lights work which equals a big problem.

There is no continuity to when it goes, i have tried with the indicator on etc nothing happens, all lights on etc and nothing happens, then if you drive for 10 metres with no lights on then it can blow. Then replace straight away and blows again, then replace again and is fine.

I did have a problem with the fuel gauge where the light bulb blew and melted the gauge but I have replaced the gauge and corresponding bulb and it still hasnt fixed the fuse problem but gauge is fine.

I have had the fuse box apart and nothing was seen. I have had the dashboard off and where do you start? Of what i could see nothing looked exposed etc.

Therefore I was wondering if anyone has had any similar problems with their land rover or could help point me in the right direction!!

Many Thanks Vinylman23

check your wires that are going to the fuel gauge as u say the gauge melted im betting that the wire has melted the plastic coating sum were and shorting out hence it blows while ur driving because it moves over bumps and such and shorting out

Agreeded with above. The fuel guage works on the earth - i.e. the power goes to the guage then onto the sensor and then earths there. The sensor alters the resistance in the circuit and hence changes the position of the guage.

Easy way to check whats going on it to remove the cables going to the fuel guage, tape them up and see if it stops happeneing. If this does not solve it then its just time to go hunting.