Author Topic: Fried Fusible Link?  (Read 1483 times)

Offline troutstreamnm

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Fried Fusible Link?
« on: November 05, 2008 - 07:54:50 PM »
I had an electrical problem come on while driving around and fortunately made it home.  I popped the hood and immediately noticed a loose power post on the fresh rebuilt alternator (from AutoZone!) and felt the wire to the alternator was hot.  Like an idiot, instead of immediately disconnecting the battery, I played with the alternator post and saw white smoke coming from the fusible link area. :-[  I immediately pulled the battery connection.  The fusible link had melted a small amount of blue plastic at the connector, but I'm not sure if the link was destroyed.  Does this pic of the fusible link look like the metal tab is fried?  Did a bridge on the tab melt away?  I'm just happy that my fresh restoration didn't go up in flames while I was driving!
08 SRT-8 Challenger
71 GA4 Challenger
70 FK5 Charger 500




Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Fried Fusible Link?
« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2008 - 08:40:49 PM »
that looks mint to me , aan Ohm meter will tell you if it has melted the wire inside but I doubt it usually the outer rubber is melted through as well

Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

Offline LAA66

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Re: Fried Fusible Link?
« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2008 - 08:44:39 PM »
  The wire should melt long before the tab. Are you sure the wire is correct? If not, replace the wire section with proper guage fusable link IMO.  Adding a fusable link from the alterator to the bulkhead (if it's original) is a good idea also. Not sure if I'm reading your comments right, but you may have a short somewhere to deal with also. Good luck. :)

Offline troutstreamnm

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Re: Fried Fusible Link?
« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2008 - 10:29:48 PM »
I think the alternator shorted out, probably at the power post.  Just had the alternator tested and it failed right off (at least it was under a limited lifetime warranty and they gave me a replacement).  The fusible link wire seems to be in tack and it reads resistance with the ohm meter.  I just wasn't sure if the metal tab had a bridge that melted or if the wire itself fries.  The link is a stock 16-gauge link that came with the M&H wiring harness.  Sound like it's fine so I'll get it back together and see if all is well.  Thanks for the input  :2thumbs:
08 SRT-8 Challenger
71 GA4 Challenger
70 FK5 Charger 500

Offline Aussie Challenger

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Re: Fried Fusible Link?
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2008 - 06:49:03 AM »
 
  I just wasn't sure if the metal tab had a bridge that melted or if the wire itself fries.   :2thumbs:
  The wire 'fuseable link' is designed to fry and melt away creating an open circuit and hopefully not short out on the body of the car. This protects the wiring loom and the car itself. Make sure if you are not certain it is OK that you replace it, it is cheap insurance.   :2thumbs:
Dave