#2 fuse blowing

[74 Thing]

I cannot figure out anything right now.

About twice a week I will look down when driving and the brake warning light will be on. It is coming on since the #2 fuse has blown. On the #2 fuse there is a wire coming from the coil, then a black wire that goes to the brake lights and a black and yellow wire that goes to the horn.

I checked the wires at the fuse block, and at the brake warning light, at the brake light switches, and at the rear of the car at the brake lights. I also checked the wires for the horn, and the light bulbs. I did not see any chaffing or anything grounding.

Can it be one of the brake light switches?

I need the brake lights and the horn to work during the commute traffic.

[mondshine]

In stock form, the black wire that leads to the ignition coil receives its power from the input side of fuse #2. In other words, the ignition circuit is not protected by a fuse. Rather, it receives its power from a bridge in the fuse panel from fuse #1; connected to terminal 15 on the ignition switch.
The only two circuits protected by fuse #2 are the brake lights and the horn.
I would suspect an intermittent internal short in the horn; grounding the black/yellow wire, which always has power when the ignition is switched on.
You could disconnect the black/yellow wire (and tape up the terminal end) for a couple of days to see if the problem goes away.
If the horn works as it should when #2 fuse is in place, look for a short in the brake light circuit.

Good luck, Mondshine

[74 Thing]

I removed the black/yellow horn wire, then fired up the car and stepped on the brake and the fuse blew. I guess that means it is in the brake wire circuit somewhere.

[74 Thing]

Thanks for the suggestions. It has been a long week. Turned out it was the rear most brake light switch on the master cylinder (It was 24+ years old). One of the terminals came off and touched another and created a short which melted part of the plastic wire housing.

I need a new brake light switch (what is a good quality one now ATE or FTE), and a plastic wire housing for the terminals. Does anyone know the part number for the terminal plug and where I can buy one?

At least I am not blowing fuses any longer or melting wires!!!

[Al Capulco]

Wolfsburg West has a german switch and the rubber boot. The brass terminals have to be cut off the wires and replaced when installing the new rubber boot. Part number for the boot is: 113 945 521A

[74 Thing]

How about the plastic plug. Is there a vw part number for this? I could not find it in the exploded parts diagrams.

https://www.mamotorworks.com/VW/product/brake-ligh...hes_379500

[Dark Earth]

Here's a link …

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=113945525
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