Blowing the gauge fuse instantly

[carmd1]

I have done the following to test for a short
My 83 CJ7 keep blowing the gauge fuse instantly when the 12volt Red cable that connects to “I” is connected. I have replaced all the electrical hardness with the painless performance kit. with the I have been able to narrow down based on this article http://home.roadrunner.com/~john.strenk/Gauge%20web%20page/basic_troubleshooting_for_cj_gau.htm . My reading on I to Ground (speedometer housing) and A to ground (speedometer housing) is .4 and .1 respectively. Now the crazy thing is when I take the gauge out of the cluster and measure I to ground (side of the gauge) and A to ground (side of the gauge) the readings are 33.0 and 53.9 respectively
I have used a VOM (volt, ohm meter) to check the continuity from the pink (not plugged) wire at the gauge to the other end where it plugs into the fuel sender unit wire. This shows good. I have ground one lead of your VOM to the chassis, and the other lead to the pink wire at gauge (not plugged to the gauge) It reads infinitive i.e. open, which is good. I have also taken one lead of the volt meter and connected to the pink wire (not connected) and I have taken the other lead of the volt meter and ground it. This gives me a reading of 79.9ohms which it should be ok as I only have one gallon of gas in the tank.

I'm at a lost trying to find out where the short is or what I need to replace.
Thanks you your help

 

[IOPort51]

If the fuse blows with the pink wire disconnected have you disconnected the temp sender? Have you checked the temp gauge? If the jumper on A is disconnected does it still blow the fuse?

 

[carmd1]

IO - I have disconnected the temp sender cable. I have tested the tem gause base on the article above. Also disconnected the jumper wire going to the temp gauge and continues to blow the fuse.

 

[IOPort51]

It sure looks like you have hit all the bases.
as much as I hate replacing parts with out knowing why, if the fuel gauge blows fuses if it is the only thing in the circuit, time for a replacement.

IO - I have disconnected the temp sender cable. I have tested the tem gause base on the article above. Also disconnected the jumper wire going to the temp gauge and continues to blow the fuse.

 

[Dan86CJ7]

i replaced my fuel gauge a few months ago and when i installed it...i found the gauge cockeyed a bit and the mounting studs were hitting the speedo housing when i tightened it down..causeing short to ground...blew fuse right away with key on. took a bit to find it but was very careful when i tightened the gauge down the 2nd time? something to check.

 

[carmd1]

Sorry for the delay answering back with a status on this issue, since I have been traveling for business a little to no time to work on the Jeep. Come to find out that the Speedo that I bought was assemble incorrectly (the gauges) and it was touching the housing blowing the fuse instantly. I purchased the Fuel and Tem gauge again assemble the same (carefully) and is all good now. On the same note I built a 5v regulator http://www.moparts.org/Tech/Archive/elec/11.html to avoid burning the Temp side of the gauge. It works perfectly fine. Thanks everyone!!!

 

[Dan86CJ7]

i just remember how frustrated i was....nice work