E36 hardtop keeps blowing fuses

[ArmsDealerCole]

Hey I’m pretty new and it’s hard finding info online. I have a e36 with a hard top it wasn’t factory fitted and I bought it because I’m tired of the soft top. It has everything but when I put it on the car it blows out my fuse specifically 33. I asked around and it said I had to check my grounding but I don’t know where or how to fix it. Can anybody help?

[MarcoZandrini]

To what does the fuse provide power?

[ArmsDealerCole]

33 it’s a 10a 32v I think. The red one

[shadowpuck]

we also need to confirm the vehicle - is this an m3 'vert? what year? auto/manual, etc....

[shadowpuck]

also, when the fuse blows what appears to no longer work or function?

[ArmsDealerCole]

also, when the fuse blows what appears to no longer work or function?

I have an 98 e36 m3 vert automatic. When fuse 33 blows it’s like my car gets a stroke. The left side signal goes out, interior lighting goes out, left side tail light goes out. Only noticeable things i caught

[shadowpuck]

i do not know the convertibles at all - i'm a roof as part of the car kinda guy....

but, if i recall, there's connectors for the hard top - or, at least, the service manual makes mention of them. somewhere, something is causing a short which causes the fuse to blow.

first guess is something in the interior lighting for the hard top or perhaps the window defroster?

i'd suspect any bmw shop that can do basic electrical troubleshooting should be able to run this down pretty quick. some knowledge of the electrical system and electrical testing, reading schematics, etc. is what's needed..

[bmwdirtracer]

I'd have a careful look at the wiring harness at the trunk hinge area. Fuse 33 feeds park, tail, underhood, trunk, and license plate lights, among other items. The trunk hinge area is a common short circuit point for these items.

[shadowpuck]

I'd have a careful look at the wiring harness at the trunk hinge area. Fuse 33 feeds park, tail, underhood, trunk, and license plate lights, among other items. The trunk hinge area is a common short circuit point for these items.

agreed - i didn't think about this earlier (was too busy zeroed in on a convertible top having connections....)