Symbol 2008 fuse 35

Hi
We have a 2008 Symbol ES which we love (owned it since January 2020). It keeps blowing fuse 35 (reversing lights and aid flow sensor) 3 garage visits later, £800 spent, a new airflow sensor, exhaust gas valve and removal of the after market cruise control and it’s still happening. The fuse blows and the engine warning light comes on. It seems to last a few days after leaving the garage and then it happens again.
Has anyone experienced anything similar or knows an expert? We tried our local garage twice and have tried a Peugeot commercial specialist in Nuneaton- it’s booked in again next week.
Thanks and hope you all enjoy 2021 in your motorhomes.
Tim

I've been suffering the engine management  light coming on recently and also spent £600 having new air mass sensor and intercooler as the code readers show the code relating to air mix faults. This is on my car not the van. Having no faith in the garage I used for this (unable to use my normal mechanic  due to travel restrictions) I phoned my usual guy for his advice. He's old school and as well as using code readers he is a proper mechanic not a technician.  He points it all to lack of use and short journeys suggesting egr valve sticking or sticking turbo vanes, both caused by soot deposits not burning off. His first suggestion  however was to clear the code and give it a good thrash up the local motorway, keeping revs at over 3000 for at least 30 minutes having first put V--power diesel in , quantity dependent  on how much standard diesel was in tank as the additives in it help clear the soot.
I know of one member here who had 3 egr valves replaced on his Boxer based van. Fuse doesn't blow on mine so maybe something totally different but hope this helps. Apparently  lots of motorists are having similar problems due to lack of use.
I haven't  had the engine light return yet , although I haven't  done a great deal of miles yet.

Timbailey wrote:Hi
We have a 2008 Symbol ES which we love (owned it since January 2020). It keeps blowing fuse 35 (reversing lights and aid flow sensor) 3 garage visits later, £800 spent, a new airflow sensor, exhaust gas valve and removal of the after market cruise control and it’s still happening. The fuse blows and the engine warning light comes on. It seems to last a few days after leaving the garage and then it happens again.
Has anyone experienced anything similar or knows an expert? We tried our local garage twice and have tried a Peugeot commercial specialist in Nuneaton- it’s booked in again next week.
Thanks and hope you all enjoy 2021 in your motorhomes.
Tim

Hi Tim
Welcome to the forum from Bridington 
Boaby

Thanks for the reply it’s the blowing fuse which is worrying I can turn the ignition key but not start the engine and it’s ok but as soon as the engine fires it blows.

Hi Tim,

I think that a more back to basics approach is required here. All this modern day plugging in a code reader stuff is all well and good, but as Paul has said it can lead you up a blind alley. Logical elimination of components had to be the only way to progress on this one.

As you say it doesn't blow when just on ignition, so with a new fuse in place without starting, do the reversing lamps work properly ? In and out of reverse a few times, ign on,off etc. If so maybe we can disregard that part of the circuit. Borrow the bathroom mirror and balance on a chair, or even better an assistant if you have one. Hopefully that will eliminate that part of the fault

The next action would be to start the engine but with the egr & maf sensors disconnected from the loom. It doesn't blow the fuse with those disconnected then obviously one of those items is faulty and deems further investigation in turn.

Conversely - if the fuse still blows with the egr & maf disconnected, then those expensive items are certainly ok and should not have been changed by the garage. 

It will start with those sensors disconnected, obviously it will illuminate the engine management light and probably run poorly, but its only temporary.

I wonder if there is a wiring loom issue, referring to Paul again and possible issues with a vehicle being unused, is there any evidence of mice activity in the engine bay ? Also inspect any connectors for signs of corrosion etc.

Thanks again for the advice.

Yes the fuse works ok with just the ignition and reverse gear and lights. I also disconnected both light clusters and have used electrical contact cleaner etc. I’ve disconnected the after market reversing sensors but it made no difference. And disconnected the air flow sensor. I did find an old thread relating to worn cables in the loom, one only visible when the n/s headlight is removed but haven’t tried that yet.