Fuse 18 keeps blowing

[liam_0404]

Hello all,
Got the Scirocco out of storage today and noticed the handbrake indicator light on the dash wasn’t illuminated when the handbrake was up.
Checked fuse 18 and it had gone, so replaced it, which it then immediately popped again.
Had a google and it says fuse 18 is for handbrake warning light, dual horn, coolant level (or something like that)
So disconnected all of those, ignition turned on and once again pop, fuse blew. Also tried removing relays but still keeps blowing fuses.
Pulling my hair out now as the only other thing I think it can be is the actual fuse box (path between fuse 18 and the back of fuse box)
Any ideas as I have MOT next week and need to get the handbrake warning light working
Thanks.

[mark1gls]

Common problem of coolant level sensor wire acting like a wick and drawing coolant down the wire into the fuse box, have a look behind the fuse book connection to see if it's rusty.
Adding in a loop in the wire before the fuse box can help with this problem.
Could be the reason why the fuse keeps blowing?

[liam_0404]

Common problem of coolant level sensor wire acting like a wick and drawing coolant down the wire into the fuse box, have a look behind the fuse book connection to see if it's rusty.
Adding in a loop in the wire before the fuse box can help with this problem.
Could be the reason why the fuse keeps blowing?

Any idea where or what this runs to at the FuseBox? (What relay etc.) There was a bit of brown on one of the relays (wasn’t numbered) which was randomly clicking like mad at one point, I’ll have a look and see.

[GT_II]

The handbrake warning light is not tested in the MOT, though I guess a meticulous tester might log it as an advisory. However, if the horns are not working either, that would be an MOT failure.

[mark1gls]

Info on fusebox
https://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.ph ... g-layout_2

Try disconnection the coolant level sensor on the expansion tank.
I think coolant level sensor is plugged into Block D pin 7?

If no better then try unpluging the other items, eg horn to try and eliminate what's causing the fuse to blow...

[C 20 CCO]

Any news pal, did you get it sorted?

[james butler]

blimey i had this problem not long back
it was the heater wire to the front of my carb gone to ground causing a short circuit.
annoyingly no manual tells you this fuse is connected to al lthe carb control wires