Ignition Switch Fusible Link!

[1989 foxvert]

first off i like to say that I'm new here and I've herd a lot of good thinks from other mustang owners.

so to begin with the little hiccup i have with my 89 vert, everything was working fine the car was running great. until when i got off work i went to start the car and it was about to start but then it just died and a puff of smoke came from the driver side engine bay and i believe it blew a fusible link. the yellow wire that runs from the ignition switch to the starter solenoid. so i replaced the ignition switch and still the same thing i replaced the usable ling ad still nothing. the other thing that concerns me is that i have no power to anything my lights don't work my break light don't my top can't go up or down. no dash light come on, nothing. so i tried to find a short but so far everything looks good. so right now I'm kind of stuck and i just wanted to see if anyone out their has ever had this happen to them. i would greatly appreciate the help thanks!!!

 

[knr1313]

Welcome Foxvert
sometimes the fuse should will go before a wire would burn in two, so if it's not a fuse somewhere (not all are in the fuse box) then you may have simply missed one. Use a volt meter and follow the wire to find where you do and don't have voltage to narrow it down.
I would use an ammeter to see if there is any power flowing out of the battery into the system and shorting somewhere. If that surge of electricity heated the wires enough you could have two wires somewhere in the harness that melted the insulation and are now contacting, or even a short to ground. That's all speculation until you test test test. Are you getting voltage to the fuel pump at least? test test and more test

 

[jrichker]

Fuse links come with a current rating just like fuses. A clue as to what current they are designed for is to look at the size wire they protect.

Choose the fuse according to the wire size.


Wire size current table:

18 gauge wire = 5-8 amps
16 gauge wire = 10-12 amps
14 gauge wire = 15-17 amps
12 gauge wire = 20-25 amps
10 gauge wire = 30-40 amps
8 gauge wire = 50-60 amps.

Keep in mind that the wire size in the chart is for the circuit itself, not the size of the fuse link. The packages of fuse link repair material you can get at the auto parts stores also will have a current rating on them.

Fuse link material is available at most good auto parts stores. There may even be a fuse link already made up specifically for your car. Just be sure to solder the connection and cover it with heat shrink tubing.

Heat shrink tubing is available at Radio Shack or other electronics supply stores.

See the video below for help on soldering and heat shrinking wiring. There is a lot of useful help and hints if you don’t do automotive electrical work all the time.


View: http://youtu.be/uaYdCRjDr4A