central locking system blowing 25A fuse

[topcat59]

need some help here. I am a new owner of a 99 Z3 2.8. some minor issues - when i got it the locking system wasn't working - changed the fuse - worked once - fuse blows. reading the forums - i suspected the trunk harness - so i disconnected the plug on the actual lock in the trunk - replaced the fuse - and the locks on the doors work correctly - from the doors and the trunk switch. so i think the truck latch is bad - pick up another - plug the harness into it - try the lock again with the key - fuse blows - ( and the lock latch is not mounted in the car - so no errant grounding thru it.
I see that the wires carry 12V on either one when the key is turned in one direction or the other -

so... if the wire was grounded someplace - then it would pop all the time (my guess) when the key is turned in any direction. but it doesn't -
it only pops when plugged into the latch -

any help is appreciated - what little hair i have left is almost gone..

Thanks
Tom

[328 Power 04]

Did you open the wire bundle along the left hinge of the trunk? Pull back the rubber covering it, I would think your problem is there.

[Randy Forbes]

Did you open the wire bundle along the left hinge of the trunk? Pull back the rubber covering it, I would think your problem is there.

Me too, or at either of the other two doors.

I have no doubt that we're going to be seeing a lot more of these phantom issues with the wiring, with even more certainty than fractured spotwelds!

[topcat59]

thanks,
the plan is to pull up the boot cover - follow the harness and see what i can find - the funny thing is it works when the plug is pulled from the latch - each door or the boot unlock and lock the doors - i can plug in the latch - all good - try to activate by turning the key - blown fuse. German engineering...

[topcat59]

ok - so today i checked the wire that is going to the trunk latch - it has one blue and one white - i get twelve volts on either one - when i turn the latch key one way or the other. could it be that the owner before me put the plug from the trunk actuator into the latch ??