I was looking into a non-functioning rear window defroster and found the fuse missing in the engine compartment fuse box. Listed on the lid but MIA!? When I looked in my bentley manual it's listed in the table (FL10/ 50A) but missing in the picture. Does anyone know where the fuse is for the defroster?

 

I have it listed as F16 30A BC1/Rear window w/o antenna or Wave trap 1 w/ rear window antenna via K13/ Heated rear screen. http://www.murmini.com/pages/electrical

 

Thanks for the tip on the fuse location. Bentley calls F16 out as "Diversity Antenna". The wife's Mini doesn't have any power antennas so it would make sense that the 30 A fuse would have to be for something else on this car. The fuse looks ok though so I've updated my manual and need to look else where. My next stop is the switch on the dash....

 

Actually, all MINIs have a 'diversity antenna'. Little known fact: There are two antennas, a primary and secondary, plus a small box called a 'diversity amplifier' hidden under the right-side rear window, under the trim. The amplifier constantly selects which signal of the two is stronger and sends that to the radio, improving the reception. The primary antenna is the whip on the roof, or on early cars, a grid in the right-side rear glass. THe secondrary antenna is the defroster grid in the back glass. There are two 'traps' that isolate the grid to allow it to pick up signals, yet still allow the current from the electrical system to pass. Why they call the rear grid the 'diversity antenna' rather than a defroster grid is beyond me. Anyway, the 30 amp fuse is indeed for the defroster. There is a relay in the left side kick panel that controls power to the grid as well. The 'traps' that pass power to the grid can be defective or the wiring can get loose. If the relay clicks in and power gets to the back but the grid does not heat, it could be the wiring or the connection to the grid itself.

 

I checked the Bentley manual and it shows the 3 relays in the kick panel area as (A)head light power wash (B) Heating & A/C blower and (C) fuel pump. There isn'e a headlight wash system on my wife's car is that relay (A) then handling the rear defrost? Am I looking in the wrong area (again)?

 

The Bentley manuals, much like a Haynes or a Chilton is rather generic when it comes to wiring schematics. This is where the factory GT1 style schematics are far better and take your actual vehicle vehicle equipment into account. The Bentley shows a schematic with all the options for the most part.

Chad

 

I'm bumping a well aged thread here, but I too am missing Fuse FL10 (50A). Is this normal?

Thank you.