2008 Saturn Aura, fuse bypass

[lechan]

I have the same kind of problem with the fuses. My manual says to pull the ign fuse. This is located by the passenger left ankle. The whole section is pulled out to find the fuse. I would like to bypass this, as the other threads explain, but probely have a little different situation?
Les Chandler

[Gary RVRoamer]

Not really any different, I would think. You need to connect a wire to the fuse terminals somehow, either with a slid eon connector (e.g. a spade terminal) or modify a blown use to use its blades as the contact. Then put a fuse and switch in the wire you have added.

[lechan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer Not really any different, I would think. You need to connect a wire to the fuse terminals somehow, either with a slid eon connector (e.g. a spade terminal) or modify a blown use to use its blades as the contact. Then put a fuse and switch in the wire you have added.

thanks for your imput
I ended up ordering a "Rving FuseSwitch" from www.RV-PartsPlus.com, Part No: FSW-1M
Already made up, and kind of expensive, ended w/shipping $48.45. But, all made up with instructions.
Les Chandler

[Gary RVRoamer]

I made mine for about $10, but it's only easy if you are familiar with electrical work.

[Elkhartjim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer I made mine for about $10, but it's only easy if you are familiar with electrical work.

Gary, is your Acadia ign fuse a mini or a micro fuse? My 2011 Malibu has a micro fuse and I haven't been able to locate a micro fuse tap...any suggestions?
Thanks

[Gary RVRoamer]

No, the Acadia pulls a big 50A can-type fuse that has standard spade female size sockets.

Can you take a micro fuse and dissemble it to get the blades? A blown fuse works - just remove enough plastic to solder wires to the top.

[Elkhartjim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer Can you take a micro fuse and dissemble it to get the blades? A blown fuse works - just remove enough plastic to solder wires to the top.

Thanks Gary, I'll give that a try. For the life of me I don't understand why they use the micro fuses...dang they're little.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Ain't that the truth! Too small for these old fingers!

[Elkhartjim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer Can you take a micro fuse and dissemble it to get the blades? A blown fuse works - just remove enough plastic to solder wires to the top.

Tried the disassemble and use the blades method Gary...not. The blades were much to wobbly.

Next I tried blowing a fuse and scraping enough of the plastic material so I could solder a wire but I kept melting the plastic and covering the blade with plastic I couldn't get good contact.

I then noticed on top of the fuse two metal "dots" for testing the fuse. I blew another fuse and this time I put the flux on the dot and of course the wire. Using a very small soldering iron I soldered the wire and got it (the wire) hot enough that it would melt the plastic and actually would slid (melt) into the plastic. First try I got the wire in contact with the blade but the second wire got "cock-eyed" and I could see one strand of wire touching the other blade. My Ohm meter verified my weak eyes.

One more fuse...sure glad a bought the big pack! By this time I had my procedure down and by golly it worked.

I got all the other connections to the new fuse holder and the switch soldered and all ohmed (sp) out okay. I installed everything and I'll be dang if it didn't work. Total spent was $9.34 and learning to solder again-priceless.

BTW, if you need to mess with those micro fuses, they are a bugger to deal with unless of course you have a steady hand with slim fingers and good up close eye sight.

[George Z]

Make sure if you try the inline fuse holder and switch with the Acadia 50 amper that both the fuse holder and switch are rated for 50 amps. You may have to go to a truck parts house to get them.

[Gary RVRoamer]

A NAPA store got both the 50A toggle and 50A maxi-fuse holder for me. They didn't have it in stock, but got it the next day.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Jim,
Your "hole" technique is probably ok for that 2A load, but I wonder if you could get a wire large enough for say, 20A, in the same way? Some of those micro-fuses aren't very micro in current!

[Elkhartjim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer Jim, Your "hole" technique is probably ok for that 2A load, but I wonder if you could get a wire large enough for say, 20A, in the same way? Some of those micro-fuses aren't very micro in current!

I used some left over tail light wire which I believe is 16 ga. Biggest problem was shaky hands.