Hello RX8club, I could really use your mojo today.

I'm 2 hours into a 2 day track event. In 2 out of 2 sessions so far, I've blown the 15Amp Engine fuse under the hood. (the one at top right of underhood fuse box). Had to get towed out each time.

After the first time I blamed the GoodBox installation, so I disconnected the GoodBox. Problem reocurred in the same exact 65mph righthander. There are other similar right handers there, but this one appears the car's least favoritre. I owe many people beer for missed track time now

GoodBox was installed 6 months ago, and the car is electrically stock otherwise. The other recent work was shocks & springs, but I can't see how that could relate to the engine fuse.

Any ideas on how to begin to troubleshoot this without going out to the same turn with more fuses?

 

This is a long shot and not 100% applicable but I and a friend had a problem with the neutral/reverse switch connectors off the transmission after we swapped our S1 gearboxes for S2.

The connectors got too close to the exhaust piping and fused together. I caught mine before it caused problems. His eventually shorted and blew out a fuse that ended his track time. I'm asking him which fuse went.

Edit: Nevermind, it was his IGN SWITCH fuse that blew.
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tec...y-dead-262993/

 

So far I've tried to recreate the failure in an empty part of the paddock, without success. I've also put the car into the same steering angle while stationary and poked at the exposed wires, ABS sensors and such, without causing another short.

In other news, the clock permanently displays 11:23.

 

I actually find this the strangest thing you've said in the entire thread. I'm not sure what the car derives it's clock source from (Radio or ECU) but it sounds like something definitely popped.

Edit: The clock probably isn't nearly as concerning as I thought. Just looked up what a goodbox was and it sounds like it's most likely related to that.

 

So I took apart the dash and disconnected the goodbox entirely. Half way through lap 1, it popped again, this time on a straight. I have a 2 hour drive home, and a handful of fuses. Wish me luck!

The clock now permanently displays 1:44, I suppose because I unplugged the battery. Then it worked for 44 minutes? lol.

 

Is the rest of the information on the display updating while the clock is stuck?

 

So turns out, one wire on the BHR ignition coil harness was rubbing on a bracket. I haven't touched those wires in 6 or 7 years, but it chose this day as the day it would cut through the insulation. I was supposed to remove that bracket when installing the BHR kit back then, but didn't and here we are.

I was too focused on the GoodBox install since that was the most recent work done, but could have easily found and fixed this issue in the paddock.

No word on the clock though. It's fine now that I've reinstalled the GoodBox. Other information did not update when it was in the fixed clock condition, so I suspect the time is stored in the display, but updated from the headunit or ECU.

 

Glad you figured it out!

Our best efforts and intentions are often sabotaged by our internal, subconscious biases. Being human sucks, sometimes.