Fuse 'I' Keeps Blowing

[CharlieB]

Hi all,
A friend of mine and I replaced my clutch on my '76 last week. Ever since then, fuse 'I' keeps blowing when I turn the keep to the on position. This is the fuse that controls the gas gauge, tach, engine temp, reverse lights, etc...
The first time it happened I checked under the car and discovered that we forgot to connect the wire to the back of the transmission. I plugged it in and replaced the fuse and was able to drive for a few days with no issues.
Today the fuse blew but the wire to the transmission was still connected. I cleaned it up and put in a new fuse and it immediately blew.
I'm brain dead when it comes to electrical issues, so has anyone had this happen?
Are there any wires that run under the center console that would connect to that fuse?
Thanks

[CharlieB]

(Update to my previous post)
I unplugged the reverse light switch from the transmission and the fuse still blows.
Does this rule out the switch as being the culprit?

[lglade]

You had to remove the starter to pull the transmission, and you also disassemble at least one ground wire. I'd start with those and make sure all connections are correct and tight.

[CharlieB]

Thanks Lloyd, everything is hooked up, clean and tight.

[azruss]

a disconnected ground does not blow fuses. Sounds like a hot wire got switched to a ground. If not, look for a wire that got moved and see if the insulation is cracked and hitting the body somewhere.

[CharlieB]

Could a loose relay cause that fuse to blow? I noticed that 2 of the relays under the hood were loose. I pushed them in...put in a new fuse and nothing blew. Not sure how they came loose in the first place. The loose relays were the engine pump relay and the engine cooling fan relay.

[spider2081]

I think if you look up behind fuse I the lower connections on back of the fuse holder will have 2 wire terminals one of them will have a light brown wire and the other one will have 2 white wires in the same terminal. Disconnect the connectors one at a time and let us know which one is making the fuse blow.

[fiat218]

The rear wires run off the same fuse, look at your taillight wiring

[CharlieB]

Well as luck would have it, I can't get the fuse to blow again.
I wiggled every wire I could get my hands on.
I think the Fiat gods are toying with me.

[spider2081]

Some Spider had a back up light switch mounted on the rear of the transmission and also a second switch mounted above the fill plug on the passenger side. If the wires for the 2 switches are swapped I think the one on the side switches a ground in certain a certain gear and the back up light switches a power. Maybe if you have the second switch and you shift through all the gears the fuse will blow again.

[fiat218]

I got the same fuse blowing, i unhooked the back harness, no fuse blew,then I Hooked just one of the two that went back to the lights, no blow, but the other one does it, I have not looked into it after that,but I know it in the back or like he said to the switches