Weird Issue

[erad]

This is a weird one. I took my wife's ZJ Outlander to the local dealer for a factory recall on the rear brakes. The dealer drove me home after I delivered the car to them. When they had finished the recall, they returned the car to our home (good service form this dealer). As the lady drove the car into the driveway, i noted that the headlights were on. We don't normally drive with the headlights on in bright clear daylight, but I thought that the lady must have turned them on.

When I went to put the car into the shed, I noted that the lights came on with the ignition switch. I went to turn them off, but the light switch in the steering column was already in the OFF position. I tried to see if high beam worked. It worked when I pulled the lever back towards me (headlight flasher) but they would not stay on.

I took the car straight back to the dealer and told them what was wrong. "Never had that problem before" was the predictable reply. Now, they had worked on the rear brakes - I saw them doing something there and it was all mechanical. Nothing to do with electrics in the front of the car. Anyway, they fixed it by pulling the travelling fuse (whatever that is) for 30 seconds and then put it back in. All good now. I cannot see how doing mechanical work on the rear of the car can have any effect on the headlights at the front. I don't know what else was or was not working, but the rest of the car seemed to work OK.

I got the mechanic to show me what he had done lest it happen to me again. He showed me that he had pulled a large yellow fuse (30A I think) from the centre of the underbonnet fuse box. I think it is a fusible link actually.

Questions:
1 What is a Travelling Fuse?
2 WHat do this do?
3 Has anyone here had a similar problem?

I would be interested to hear other's comments on this oddity.

[Kingbrown]

I've seen reference to "Dark Current Fuses", which I interpret as fuses for particular circuits that will drain the battery while the vehicle is in transit/storage.

A pre-delivery checklist references such fuses and requires their insertion as part of getting the vehicle ready for the customer.

[Kingbrown]

Here's what I was referring to:

[Old Paj]

Weird Issue

Nothing would surprise me with the electrics in the newer vehicles.

In my Gen 3 Paj, if the hazard light fuse blows, I noted that as well as not having any indicators, I also have the water in fuel light and the check engine lights come on also. Replace fuse all good.

[erad]

KingBrown: I doubt that it is a dark fuse issue because the car is 5.5 years old and I think they would have sorted transport issues by now.I am looking through a CD W/S manual I have for the car but the Asian/Russian/Satanistic way of thinking vastly differs from mine. The wiring diagrams on the latest Mitsubishi are something to behold. Eventually, when I get my mind in the right way of thinking, it is relatively simple, but until I hit the right spot, it is a maze... I have seen some possible connection to the ABS though, and this may be where the error was induced? I will keep looking.

[erad]

Well, I looked at the car itself again, and also the owners handbook. I wasn't expecting much from the handbook, but it lists the fuses etc in there. The fuse the mechanic indicated to me was, as far as I could see, called IOD. Not a clue as to what IOD is. All the other fuses had real uses eg radiator fan or L headlight etc, but this circuit is listed as IOD.

Anyone got any ideas as to what IOD is?

[Scouter1]

Anyone got any ideas as to what IOD is?

IOD stands for ignition off draw and usually provides memory power to the bcm security hello, iod, stand. Chrysler uses that fuse for radio memory, dome lights, etc this is usually 12 apr 2017 a yellow light in the center at bottom of instrument panel came on evening https://youtu.be/uwgX4wNs69U

[erad]

Thx Scouter - Now I have to see if anything was left on. I doubt it because the Outie has a timer which is supposed to protect against battening the flattery. The car battery was OK (it is almost brand new), but presumably some ECU has gone silly. Hopefully it won't do that again.

Interestingly, my Pajero had a bat flattery the same day, but it had not been used for about 4 weeks, and it is damned cold here. Hopefully both cars are OK now.

[Kingbrown]

Does this mean there are three different terms for the same function ?

Travelling Fuse = Dark Current Fuse = Ignition Off Draw Fuse.

[erad]

Dark Current Fuse and IOD certainly would mean the same thing. Travelling fuse was the name given by the mechanic, and I can see nothing to relate this name to the function as described by him.

[erad]

Well, I have done nothing except look extensively through the workshop manual CD I have (and found nothing relevant). But today, I got in the car and turned the ignition key and all worked as it should. No logical reason for it. The car has had a new battery fro about 2 months now, but it has worked perfectly.

[vladguan]

Well, I have done nothing except look extensively through the workshop manual CD I have (and found nothing relevant). But today, I got in the car and turned the ignition key and all worked as it should. No logical reason for it. The car has had a new battery fro about 2 months now, but it has worked perfectly.

Was the outlander part of the indicator stalk harness/plug recall?

[erad]

No. The recall covered only the handbrake actuating mechanism. Apparently they had a crappy seal which could let water in and cause rust, which could impede proper handbrake operation.

I think that the electronic disturbance could have come from mucking around with the ABS. Otherwise it may simply be coincidence. Whatever, it seems to have gone now, but I am not saying this too loud in case it hears me....