Fresh Air Fan keeps blowing fuse....

[keganater]

So I was just into the dash yesterday taking care of a faulty coolant gauge and now after putting it all back together the fresh air fan keeps popping the proper 20 amp fuse. I inspected everything as best as i could and I don't notice anything out of the ordinary. Wires show no signs of corrosion, grounds look good, switch looks good, etc.

Is this a common problem with a common fix? TIA

PS - Car is a 1992 Cabriolet

[ToplessBunny85]

Are you talking about your blower motor? Mine did this when the bearing in the fan started to seize up, too much resistance. You probably need to replace your blower.

[briano1234]

Try this: http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?1843162

then followed by:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?1817057

That should resurrect your blower. If not then the Yard's or new is gonna be for you.

I would unplug the Motor from the switch (drivers side air box a 5 pin molex (white) connector).
Replace the fuse, still blows then it isn't the blower motor.

[tolusina]

If the fan was working fine before you opened up the dash, then started blowing it's fuse after re-assembly, you pinched a wire to ground somewhere along the line.
Open it back up, carefully inspect every stage of your work, you'll find your oops.

It'll help to know if the fuse blows immediately after switching on the ignition, or does the fan need to be switched on and to what speed setting before the fuse blows. These clues can help pin down which and what color wire to look for and at for the short.

[keganater]

If the fan was working fine before you opened up the dash, then started blowing it's fuse after re-assembly, you pinched a wire to ground somewhere along the line.
Open it back up, carefully inspect every stage of your work, you'll find your oops.

It'll help to know if the fuse blows immediately after switching on the ignition, or does the fan need to be switched on and to what speed setting before the fuse blows. These clues can help pin down which and what color wire to look for and at for the short.

That's what I was thinking but I haven't been able to find anything. I will see when the fuse is popping when I get a chance as well.

[keganater]

Ok so it blows the fuse the second the ignition is turned on, (the switch is completely disconnected). Any pointers on where I should look for a short? I'm not finding anything

[tolusina]

Unplug the fan switch, see if the fuse still blows immediately as the key is switched on, I suspect it will. (oops, I see you already answered this, sorry)
Is so, my conclusion is that the black/red wire to the fan switch got pinched under a screw or bracket as you re-installed the dash bits.
I'll further guess that the wire is pinched under the heater control bracket's left side mounting tab, the wire shouldn't be able to reach the right side.
If you don't find the pinch there, follow the red/black back towards the left until you do.

[keganater]

Thanks for the help. The red and black wire isn't the problem but I found out what was! The antenna adapter behind the radio has some exposed metal (not anymore ) that was grounding one of the wires that hookup underneath the HVAC control mechanism. Took me a good couple of hours to find it but it's all buttoned back up and blowing like a champ!

Thanks again.