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O.T. Fusible link instead of fuse

I

IA Roy

Well-known Member
My FIL has had electrical issues with his 95 Astro AWD. I finally found a burnt fusible link between the starter and the alternator. Why do they use these instead of a replacable fuse in an accessable location?
 
So you have to spend money at the dealer whereas you cheated the dealer out of his over priced repair job. Now the down side to this is why did it let go ??? Had to be a short someplace.
 
This was discussed before.

Fusible links are used in places where it's impractical to install a fuse, typically on primary circuits that carry a lot of current. Before the introduction of fusible links, these circuits would have been unprotected, and I think you'll agree that a fusible link is better than no fuse at all. If not for the fusible link, your FIL might have been replacing an entire wiring harness instead of the link.

A Fusible link is both cheaper and more reliable than an in-line fuse. Links are immune to corrosion, an important consideration in an exposed location or close to the battery. Consider that almost every vehicle made in the last forty years has at least one fusible link, yet you rarely hear of them failing. And when they do fail, it's always due to a short circuit, not corrosion.
 
Daughter"s car had an oxygen sensor short out, took a fusable link with it. Disabled the car. Link probably saved a bunch of things by blowing.
 
Its cheaper for the car companies to install them and they work fine is why they are used, but one draw back is that farmer Billy Bob may not be aware of them.

John T
 
He was having battery trouble for most of the summer, he hardly used it, so has just been jumping it when he had to move it. He said that when he was jumping it, something happened and then smoke was coming out from under. I assume that was when it burned out. I am not sure what to think about the cause of the burnout. He took the alternator to Napa and it checked out good.
From what I can tell, the link protects the system from a short in the alternator.
 
On the 77 GMC dumpster trucks we had there was no fuse for the rear brake/turn signal lights. The wires were routed around behind the wood between the frame an bed. When the wood shrunk over time the wires worked up under it. After a while they shorted out against the frame. When this happened the whole wireing harness going up though the steering column went up in smoke. Poof.
GM would not cover it because it was electrical. Also they didn't make that harness anymore they sent me a new harness that went to the whole truck. I found the parts on it to correct the one I had.
Walt
 
Thanks for the help and education. I soldered a new link in this evening and put the starter back in, hooked up the battery and drove it out.
 
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