bobcat98092 Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 Our 2013 Journey keeps blowing its power fuse in the center console. I've replaced the 20 amp fuse twice. It usually blows within a day or two. I put in a 30 amp fuse and it blew after a couple days. What's the starting point to figure this problem out? dhh3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigtsr Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 I would think that what ever your using in the center console outlet is the place to start looking - obviously it has an intermittent short. Possibly the DC outlet has come loose in its socket become twisted and is shorting at its source connection. OhareFred and dhh3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeaton Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 What are you plugging into the outlet? dhh3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobcat98092 Posted December 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 The only I plug in there is the car dvd player or our cell phone charger. dhh3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhareFred Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 Which are you using when it blows? DO NOT USE A BIGGER FUSE. The wires cannot handle a 30 amp draw, you could start a fire. If your dvd player is blowing it, check what its draw is supposed to be. Replace with the proper size fuse, dont plug anything in for a couple of days, see if it blows. If it blows while being used, its more than likely the device. If it blows by itself, its the vehicle. Ive used mine in my 09 for all kinds of stuff, never blew the fuse...let us know BrianS and dhh3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobcat98092 Posted December 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 It seems to be ok if we don't use it. It started when we first used the dvd player. The plug doesn't seem to fit all the way in. Its gotta be shorting out the fuse if it's not seating in the plug all the way. I'm an electrician but I hate messing with auto wiring lol dhh3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhareFred Posted December 20, 2015 Report Share Posted December 20, 2015 If its not fitting all the way in, itsmost likely arcing and blowing the fuse. Might have to change the plug on the dvd player. dhh3 and jkeaton 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeaton Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Definitely what you are plugging in. If the fuse keeps blowing whenever you plug whatever it is you are plugging in, it's what you are plugging in. Fix that and stop blowing fuses. dhh3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty256 Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 At least it's not like the old fuses , fuse blows so just wrap the fuse in foil....then wonder why the wiring starts melting .... Never ever put a bigger fuse in ...in fact the safest way to figure out is put a lower fuse rating as you keep replacing fuses.. Something in that DVD player is causing problems dhh3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bramfrank Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 I think you answered your own question;Mobile DVD players do not consume much power, so blowing a fuse is indicative of a significant fault.Since the fuse only blows when you plug in the DVD player something in the DVD player or it's cable assembly is shorting. If you have a warranty for it I'd suggest you return it or send it in for repair as appropriate if you don't want to get into fixing it yourself. (note to OhareFred: Arcing is not a possibility because of the low voltages involved).As an electrician you know that putting in a larger fuse to replace one that blows can be dangerous, though a slightly larger fuse in a residential application isn't usually an issue because wiring is typically larger gauge than necessary for the task - but in vehicles they don't overdo the wire size so they can save weight - so if the fuse blows twice you should not be tempting fate and stop replacing them until you resolve the cause. OhareFred and jkeaton 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobcat98092 Posted December 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Thanks guys. I know popping in a bigger fuse wasn't the best idea lol. Those dvd players are the only thing that keeps my 1 year old from screaming his head off during car rides. I'll replace the cord. jkeaton, dhh3 and 11journeybama 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhh3 Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 Not all 12v DC plugs are the same. I bought a 12v to USB converter from Best Buy and it would not seat properly in the 12v Port under the dash. I took it back in and swapped it for a different brand. Popped in perfectly. Weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhareFred Posted December 21, 2015 Report Share Posted December 21, 2015 (note to OhareFred: Arcing is not a possibility because of the low voltages involved). Bamfrank, its not just the voltage, its the amperage. 20-30 amps @ 12 volts can arc if the gap is small enough. jkeaton and dhh3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bramfrank Posted December 22, 2015 Report Share Posted December 22, 2015 (edited) Actually, current does not initiate an arc - current will cause an arc when a high current connection is BROKEN - voltage and the specifics of the gaseous medium (pressure, temperature and the nature of the gas itself) are the factors that determine the distance required to spontaneously arc across a gap.The rules that determine the minimum gap is called Paschen's Law. At 12 volts and under normal atmospheric conditions that gap is so tiny that it is virtually impossible to have a traditional automotive installation where the wires are close enough to arc without shorting together. Edited December 22, 2015 by bramfrank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broncobuddha Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 Bobcat/all. I'm having this exact same problem with our 2013 SXT. All of the 12v ports are out. None of them work. Started the same way, cell charger and dual DVD player plugged into the back of the center console. My question is which fuse is it? (I know it's a 20 based on comments above) Is it the block in the engine bay or under the passenger side? Anyone have a pic of the specific one to replace? Thanks! dhh3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeaton Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 Should be fuse descriptions in the owners manual. dhh3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 my daughter 2007 caravan front power outlet quit working but the back one still worked couldn't find any blown switches so i put in a new one and it worked for a while then it quit and still no blown fuses but when checking for power with a meter nothing was there, as she uses this for a mail vehicle i just ran a new wire to the battery and put in a new inline fuse and she hasn't had any more problems, oh well it works. dhh3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobcat98092 Posted January 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 The 20 amp fuse is under the glove box. I have to get a power cord for my dvd player that fits the socket correctly. I'll probably hit Radio Shack and see if they have one to fit my dvd player and journey socket. dhh3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Broncobuddha Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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