Hi all.

I had to change out the battery in my 2000 rodeo. Needless to say we somehow
blew the fuse for the main (under the hood). Bought a new one and the
truck started right up, then so did a bunch of problems. I have no
gauges working on the dash, and everytime I replace the 15A "meter"
fuse, it immediately poofs. Also, when driving it feels like the truck
turns on "winter drive" everytime I come to a stop, though I''''m not
touching the button for it. While driving the other day, i used
the power window while the radio was on, and the speakers went quite
while pushing the window button. Tried it again, and now the radio is
gone. It''''s not the fuse. Most importantly, I lost almost all power.
With it floored, I was lucky to be able to go 5 miles an hour all the
way home. There''''s obviously something "grounding out", or however you
wish to put it, but I have no idea where to start. Anyone else have the
same problem or can anyone give me a clue as to what I fried? I really
appreciate it! I''''m at a loss and I need my truck! I should mention that
I could not find a 100A main replacement fuse so it was replaced with
an 80A. Thanks all.


Edited by: ejkz

 

i know what happened. when you hooked up your battery, you connected it backwards. thats what blew the 100 amp fuse. as far AS the meter, i am searching that one. i know this as thats what i did and am fixing it now. have you fixed yours?

 

You might have to check power distribution. Here is one to start.

 

Alright, I got mine figured out. Maybe yours will be the same. There is a relay hooked to the meter. It is located under the automatic shifter on the drivers side. The other side of the relay is connected to a little solenoid under the shifter next to the relay. This solenoid actuates the shifter button release. You put the key in and turn and the button releases. My solenoid burnt out due to the battery being hooked up wrong. If you take your console out you will see what I am talking about. My meter fuse blew in a sec after the key was turned on. Thats the time to get from the relay to the solenoid that was shorted out. Its crazy but the meter fuse feeds a wire that goes out the ds firewall, around the front of the vehicle, through the PS firewall to the passengers side kick panel, through a connector, under the passengers seat, to the console relay. Then it travels back under the passengers seat, back through the connector in the kick panel, up through the dash, back down to the shifter to the solenoid. 2 inches away from the relay! You can test this by unplugging the relay, or the solenoid, or the connector in the passengers kick panel,(3rd up from the bottom I think).

Let me know if this help you.

 

Also, if the alternator goes out it causes havoc with the tranny. I lost mine one time and I thought the tranny was going out. They tell me that the diode in the alternator can blow if hooked up backwards which could explain the loss of power and the other electrical issues.