1987 Carrera fuse panel mess

[Slanski62]

Hi there. I am attempting to install the JWest headlight relay to my recently acquired Carrera. Upon opening the fuse panel, I found the po had made some modifications, but I can't tell exactly what. It looks like one of the headlight fuses is the wrong value. Also, fuse #2, the 25A, should have something connected on both sides of the fuse, shouldn't it? There is a non-standard dual relay, which is connected to the top side of #1 on the left. From this relay, there are two bundles of about five wires each that disappear into the firewall area. It's possible they are feeding an aftermarket alarm, which I've found evidence of. But would an alarm have 10 or so sensors? My first inclination is to disconnect this relay and see if everything still works. But before I do that, I thought I'd ask the experts: can anyone look at this spaghetti and draw any likely conclusions and make recommendations as to how the panel should be taken back to oem configuration? Thank you!

[DRACO A5OG]

Do you have the Bentley Manual?

What ever you do put the correct fuses for all holders or it may cause an wire to melt.

[Slanski62]

Yes, I have the Bentley manual. The only thing I can glean from it is that the yellow headlamp fuse is incorrect. Will it tell me how the 25A in positions 1, 2 and 3 should feed or be fed?

Steve

[DRACO A5OG]

Yes, the wiring diagram will layout what goes in and out of each holder.

[steely]

I note a missing buss bar between 2 and 3, and different sized fuses for 7, 14 and 18.
I would recommend that you follow the bentley and verify which ones are stock - in order to narrow down which ones aren't - and then proceed with the investigation. (pg 971-17)
Also try to figure out if the PO made changes to 7, 14 an 18 - or simply installed whatever size fuse was handy..
That said, just judging from how nice it looks, I tend to think there was a method to his madness as opposed to him replacing blown fuses (which I think was unlikely).

By fuse 7, 14 and 18, I mean I counted from left to right in your pic.
They are actually: Relay panel #1, fuse 4; Relay panel #2, fuse 1; and Relay panel #2, fuse 5

if you have problems with the accuracy of the bentley, come back here. It tends to get a little simplistic in the electrical department.

[DRACO A5OG]

+1 on the Buss. If you pull it, check the part number as the replacement is a superceded one and I recall it being on the back side.

I cut mine to make it like the original to use the buss.

[MConn]

Originally Posted by Slanski62

...Also, fuse #2, the 25A, should have something connected on both sides of the fuse, shouldn't it? ...

There are brass jumpers built into the back side of the fuse panel.See right side of Pic -



My 87 fuse panel has a jumper between 2 and 3, and 3 and 4 - like steely mentioned.

Mike

[steely]

Originally Posted by MConn

There are brass jumpers built into the back side of the fuse panel.See right side of Pic -
Mike

This is cool - I didn't know there were built-in jumpers. Slanski you can buzz it out with an ohmmeter and eliminate the fuse #2 question.
And can you post a pic of the relay you mentioned?

[DRACO A5OG]

Yeap, that was the fuse block that was sent from the dealer.

[fred cook]

If you have the original fuse panel cover, look at the inside. It will tell you what was originally wired where, etc. The added wires will have to be traced from end to end to know what they are doing. Good luck!

[john walker's workshop]

Looks pretty normal from what I see all the time.