2000 Blowing 10amp Gauge Fuse

Hello,

Newb here to the 4 runner forum (Have a taco). A friend has a 2000 4 runner with 140k miles, and it is a FL car in good overall condition. It recently started popping a 10 amp fuse labeled “gauge” anytime the AC and blower motor are running. It can do this often at times and other times not so much. The truck has been at a mechanic friends of the owner And they were thinking it is the AC compressor.

Im thinking it maybe has something to do with a bad ground... either (-) connection at the battery, the chassis, or the cable itself as doesn’t seem to make sense the gauge fuse pops due to ventilation system. Any thoughts?
Thanks!

 

Not too sure why they are thinking its the compressor.

Found this so far.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zu8ywkj4...terior+Light++-+.pdf&subfolder_nav_tracking=1

 

Here more.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zu8ywkj4...nation+Meter++-+.pdf&subfolder_nav_tracking=1

And the whole link
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zu8ywkj4...Runner Electrical Wiring Diagram EWD319U?dl=0

 

Check and see if fuse blows when truck is put into reverse, if so it's a bad reverse light switch.

 

Fuses blow because too much power is trying to be pulled through them. A bad ground...would just limit the power draw and make a blowing fuse less likely.

It's going to be a short. The short can be in the wiring or in a faulty component that when switched on draws way too much power.

The AC compressor does have a switch in it to actuate the clutch. You could disconnect that wire and see if the problem disappears (you won't have AC). But if that clutch is not on the circuit with the fuse...it's not going to be it.

Basically look at the circuit and see what all is attached.