fuse 8/radio/climate problems

[98RRover]

Hello,
Tonight while driving my 1998 P38 4.6 I got a message that fuse 8 failed and my radio and climate control cut out since they are controled by fuse 8. I replaced the fuse but unfortunately it instantly blew so there is a short somewhere. I went to an auto parts store just to see if they had any ideas and they said that it might be the actual climate control unit with a short in it, the radio with a short in it, or a short somewhere between the two units and the fuse block, but I could have told you that. Has anyone had this issue with their p38? I am at school now but will be home tomorrow (long drive without and music or climate control ) so I will be able to work on it if anyone has an idea. I think I am going to end up at the dealership ( again) but if anyone can help me out that would be great! Thanks!!!

[Rovin4life]

shorts can be easily located by disconnecting parts like the radio then seeing if the fuse blows.

if you have a circuit breaker then it will reset itself.

i have nice fancy short finder that basically lights up when you have a short.

but, only if the short happens immediately. if a bare wire occasional rubs then no its as useless as they come.

[98RRover]

I actually went to the dealership and they were able to fix it. It turns out there was a nickel lodged by the cigarette lighter that was causing the short. They pulled it out and best of all, NO CHARGE!!! : )

[rmuller]

Hah, that happened once on my sisters Jetta, there was a push pin in there.