Urgent assistance request

[BoxDriver86]

First off, it's an '86 325es. My problem started yesterday on the way to dinner. Fuse #10 blew without warning and with no change in normal operation. Nothing new added or removed. I replaced the fuse and 15 minutes later, it blew. Headed to the salvage yard today. After about 15 minutes of driving it blew. I removed the dash and followed each wire to check for a short and found nothing.

When #10 goes, dash lights go, climate controls go (no AC), no tach, no gas or coolant guage.

We're supposed to head to the beach tomorrow and my other car is currently dismantled in the garage.

I'm hoping that I'm missing something stupid, please point out my stupidity and let me get on with my beach trip. Thanks!

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[MR 325]

Good chance your SI board is bad.

[StereoInstaller1]

Looked over the diagrams for just a second...sounds like Matt has a great stab at it.

Grab another instrument panel and swap it in.

[BoxDriver86]

Turns out the wires to the back up switch on the tranny had been rubbing against the shifter assembly and had worn into the wires, causing them to short out when the wire came in contact with the shifter.

Thanks for your help folks.

[StereoInstaller1]

Yup, dammit...the diagram for fuse 10 does not mention that, but it does show C301, so I should have known that one.

Good catch!