Hi I have an 05 jcw. Can anyone tell me what this fuse is for? The fuse inside was shot. I placed a 5 amp fuse and it immediately died, the car was off.

 

Somebody did some aftermarket wiring so there is no way to tell what it is for. Open the box up, where does the red wire terminate?

 

It looks like the wiring for the door that opens on the back side of the air cleaner.

 

Take a picture on the left side of you air filter box and then one on top of the airfilter box toward the firewall. Will see if the solenoid is on your airbox.

 

How the red wire poked out of the rubber boot is a dead giveaway. You have to trace where the other end of the wire go. Finding where it tapped into the fuse box won't tell you (OP) anything.

 

I for one like to review how a previous owner made a connection into the fuse box as that connection could be a bigger issue than the fuse blowing. There is also the chance that the person had an issue with a circuit and used the new connection to replace it. By tracing the lead back to the connection you could eliminate both questions.

 

I concur you do have good points about checking inside how and where it is connected. The possibility of less than safe splice is very real depends on the previous owner that did this. What's interesting is the OEM looking finish except how the red wire penetrates the rubber boot. The 2 pin connectors look like they are either repurposed from a donor car, or the original harness.

 

Looks like it is tapping power from the engine bay fuse box and possibly being routed back into the cabin? if thats the case, i'm wondering why the previous owner didnt just use the fusebox under the steering wheel. So perhaps instead this is powering something in the engine bay... jcw airbox... aftermarket lights...?

edit: jcw airbox instructions: http://www.outmotoring.com/images/ho...GRADE_gen1.pdf. Wiring looks very similar to yours. Time to find where it is shorting out?

 

Seems you cracked the puzzle. I did a bit of search and found this with the best photo with the 2-pin connector harness. The PO probably removed the JCW airbox and sold it separately.

 

^+1 Thats the JCW airbox. Its was part of that electronic flap that opened up at certain RPMs. 13720391513

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-mini-parts/john-cooper-works-intake-kit/13720391513/