# Radar blowing fuses? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 10, 2007, 3:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radar-blowing-fuses/4406 "2007-09-10T15:41:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cw\_ellie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb9ed0/32.png) [@cw\_ellie](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cw_ellie)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 3:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radar-blowing-fuses/4406/1 "2007-09-10T15:41:00Z")
My Chevy Astro van seems to blow a fuse, literally, every time it gets zapped by police radar. Is this possible? How can I fix this situation? Tired of buying 20amp fuses. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 3:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radar-blowing-fuses/4406/2 "2007-09-10T15:44:35Z")
Which fuse is blowing? ---
**Author:** ![cw\_ellie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb9ed0/32.png) [@cw\_ellie](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cw_ellie)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 4:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radar-blowing-fuses/4406/3 "2007-09-10T16:11:05Z")
the ECM-I. Car dies. ---
**Author:** ![DARTMAN69](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dartman69/32/29_2.png) [@DARTMAN69](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DARTMAN69)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 4:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radar-blowing-fuses/4406/4 "2007-09-10T16:17:37Z")
Why do you think this problem is associated with police radar? ~Michael ---
**Author:** ![cw\_ellie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb9ed0/32.png) [@cw\_ellie](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cw_ellie)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 4:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radar-blowing-fuses/4406/5 "2007-09-10T16:29:48Z")
It only seems to happen when I see police vehicles and they seem to be working radar set-ups. Does not happen any other time. ---
**Author:** ![DARTMAN69](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dartman69/32/29_2.png) [@DARTMAN69](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DARTMAN69)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 4:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radar-blowing-fuses/4406/6 "2007-09-10T16:32:18Z")
What year is your van? ~Michael ---
**Author:** ![cw\_ellie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb9ed0/32.png) [@cw\_ellie](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cw_ellie)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 4:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radar-blowing-fuses/4406/7 "2007-09-10T16:41:10Z")
1997 Astro Van ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radar-blowing-fuses/4406/8 "2007-09-10T16:54:51Z")
No way…The radar used by police isn’t powerfull enough to cause any problem like that unless the radar was 2-3 inches away from the circuitry. ---
**Author:** ![DARTMAN69](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dartman69/32/29_2.png) [@DARTMAN69](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DARTMAN69)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radar-blowing-fuses/4406/9 "2007-09-10T17:55:10Z")
The ECM-1 fuse provides power to the crank sensor, fuel injectors, ECM, ignition module, and coil. As Mike stated police radar alone would not cause this problem. However, if you have installed any electronic equipment in the van such as a CB radio, etc. it could potentially cause you problems. Has anything been done to the van since the onset of this problem. Recent repair work, accessory installation, etc? ~Michael ---
**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 6:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radar-blowing-fuses/4406/10 "2007-09-10T18:51:42Z")
Politely ask the officer to not use the radar gun while you’re around. ---
**Author:** ![cw\_ellie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb9ed0/32.png) [@cw\_ellie](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cw_ellie)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 7:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radar-blowing-fuses/4406/11 "2007-09-10T19:28:23Z")
the only thing added has been an aftermarket cruise control. this is a company van that I received about three months ago so I don’t have any history I just know that this problem happened about a month ago and now has reoccurred again today ---
**Author:** ![cw\_ellie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb9ed0/32.png) [@cw\_ellie](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cw_ellie)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 7:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radar-blowing-fuses/4406/12 "2007-09-10T19:42:58Z")
How it happened today was this. I saw a police car on the side of the highway, obviously using radar. As I got past him, zap. The van stopped. Then on the way back, same place, he pulled out and followed me. A car sped by us and zap, the police car pulled out from behind me to chase the speeding car and my van stopped. About 15 - 20 miles later, the same situation where another policeman was working radar and as I drove past, zap…my van stopped. This occurred once before, about 2 months ago. I was traveling on business, the van stopped. Replaced the fuse, and on the way home, exact same spot, the fuse blew again. Too much of a coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Cadalzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@Ed\_Cadalzo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ed_Cadalzo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 9:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radar-blowing-fuses/4406/13 "2007-09-10T21:05:19Z")
Diconnect the cruise control and see if it happens again. You might have a short in that systtem and whoever installed it took the power from that particular fuse. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 1:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/radar-blowing-fuses/4406/14 "2007-09-11T01:46:53Z")
It could be that the police radio is killing the fuse. I can imagine it happening but wouldn’t have believed it. The only thing I seem to recommend… See if the engine is grounded to the fender or firewall by a single cable all by itself. If it isn’t you should install a ground. If it is, you can clean the ends with a wire brush. Disconnect and clean and reattach. I have no idea if it will help. A ground strap touching the road could also help. Probably available at a truck stop. You can get a big T shirt there too.