So I have to give credit to @ZackR on this one. My fix was just slightly different and thankfully "free". My fuse was blowing everytime as soon as I turned the key. A search in the old forum led me to this thread (10 amp gauge fuse keeps blowing - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/10-amp-gauge-fuse-keeps-blowing.134621/page-3). This was the exact same symptom as @ZackR. He had to replace the VSS. luckily for me my cruiser had only been the victim of some easily accessible wires to the VSS coming out of the wire cover and was rubbing against the wire bracket. See images for location incase you happen to be as unfortunate and fortunate as me.
This first image shows the VSS looking from the back to the front of the vehicle. I have circled the bracket in question.
This is an image from below. Apologies for the obscured view due to the belly plate.
Here is the close up of the "bracket" which is really just a piece of metal bent into a loop to hold the wire. My guess is the constant rubbing split the wire cover allowing the wires to come out through the cover slit easier. once they were out, it was just a matter of time before the short occured.
before doing anything, I confirmed the suspicion by unplugging the VSS and trying a new fuse. Sure enough that fixed the issue. So now it was just fingers crossed that where the exposed wire was touching the bracket was causing a short. I pried open the bracket. exposed the wires further. There was not immense damage...really not anything even that visible other than some faint marks. Anyways, wrapped each wire in some electrical tape in that zone. wrapped all 3 wires together in that zone. finally shoved them back into the cover and electrical tape all over that area to keep in closed and protected. Bent the bracket back closed nice and snug....and TA DA. fixed. Apologies for not taking any "before" pictures, I was limited by my work parking lot resources and lunch break time.
So Thank you again @ZackR for narrowing it down almost immediately to the VSS as being a highly probable source of the issue of the fuse blowing whenever attempting to just turn the key. This could have been a wild goose chase. I hope anyone else that has the dreaded Gauge fuse blow (apparently it has a ton of stuff on that circuit) has as easy a fix as I did here.
This first image shows the VSS looking from the back to the front of the vehicle. I have circled the bracket in question.
This is an image from below. Apologies for the obscured view due to the belly plate.
Here is the close up of the "bracket" which is really just a piece of metal bent into a loop to hold the wire. My guess is the constant rubbing split the wire cover allowing the wires to come out through the cover slit easier. once they were out, it was just a matter of time before the short occured.
before doing anything, I confirmed the suspicion by unplugging the VSS and trying a new fuse. Sure enough that fixed the issue. So now it was just fingers crossed that where the exposed wire was touching the bracket was causing a short. I pried open the bracket. exposed the wires further. There was not immense damage...really not anything even that visible other than some faint marks. Anyways, wrapped each wire in some electrical tape in that zone. wrapped all 3 wires together in that zone. finally shoved them back into the cover and electrical tape all over that area to keep in closed and protected. Bent the bracket back closed nice and snug....and TA DA. fixed. Apologies for not taking any "before" pictures, I was limited by my work parking lot resources and lunch break time.
So Thank you again @ZackR for narrowing it down almost immediately to the VSS as being a highly probable source of the issue of the fuse blowing whenever attempting to just turn the key. This could have been a wild goose chase. I hope anyone else that has the dreaded Gauge fuse blow (apparently it has a ton of stuff on that circuit) has as easy a fix as I did here.