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Car Won't Start: Fusable Link

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Old Aug 12, 2009 | 12:47 PM
  #1  
TimRS's Avatar
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From: McDonough, GA
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Car Won't Start: Fusable Link

OK guys I have electronics question. A couple of months ago my wife and I went to the mountains on vacation. When I returned I planned to change my radiator which was leaking. While in the mountains I broke my foot and had to have surgery and was off my feet for about two months. So once I'm back up and moving around I go out to start the RS so that I can move it and begin the radiator work. It won't start; no juice in the battery. I charge the battery and try to start and the black junction block by the battery starts to smoke. What I believe is a fusable link now has the smaller guage wire broken between the fuse and junction block. I spliced this back together and tried to start but no luck. The starter turns over and I have lights, HVAC fan, but not radio and the ignition is not sparking. I sure of the ignition because I removed the coil wire from the distributor and left it close enough to the post on the distributor to see if it would arc and nothing happened. I also do not hear the electric fuel pump cycle when you turn the key. Does this entire fusable link need to be changed or do you guys have any other ideas?
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Old Aug 13, 2009 | 04:58 AM
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TimRS's Avatar
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From: McDonough, GA
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Car Won't Start: Fusable Link

Somebody has got to have some idea or experienced something similiar.
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Old Aug 13, 2009 | 01:25 PM
  #3  
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From: Mooresville NC
Car: LOWERED ♦ CRIMSON METALFLAKE
Engine: ► 400 KUBES ◄
Transmission: 765R4
Axle/Gears: EATON POSI 4.56
PUMP UP THE FUSE


See if you have power at the fuel pump relay pin A.

This pin needs to be ‘hot’ at all times regardless of the position of the key.

If it isn’t, there is an inline fuse or fusible link connected to an orange wire which you should find as you trace from the relay towards the battery.


Happy Racing!

If People Drove Any Slower They’d Be Going Backwards

Fog lights are not driving lights. They look dorky. Turn em off slow pokes.

How bout those dorks too scared to drive without headlights on in the daytime!

.
.

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Old Aug 13, 2009 | 06:47 PM
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From: NC
Car: 91 Trans Am
Re: Car Won't Start: Fusable Link

Fusible links are located near the junction block you found and on the starter wires

Fusible links are just a fuse in a wire to prevent surges. Go to any parts store and get a blade fuse pigtail and splice that in place of the link
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Old Aug 13, 2009 | 09:18 PM
  #5  
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From: morrow, ga
Car: 82 S10, 83 280ZX, 84 Z28
Engine: 355 smallblocks..na, 2.8 turbo
Transmission: 85:th350, 84:700R4
Axle/Gears: 85:ford9 4.85, 84:stock 3.24
Re: Car Won't Start: Fusable Link

hey neighbor. get a schematic and find where the volt drop is. use a test light to check those links.
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Old Aug 13, 2009 | 09:28 PM
  #6  
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From: sunny so cal.
Car: 1990
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: stock
Re: Car Won't Start: Fusable Link

pm me with an email address and i will send you the entire wiring diagram including the 7 fuseable link areas. its from my 90.
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Old Aug 14, 2009 | 07:25 AM
  #7  
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From: morrow, ga
Car: 82 S10, 83 280ZX, 84 Z28
Engine: 355 smallblocks..na, 2.8 turbo
Transmission: 85:th350, 84:700R4
Axle/Gears: 85:ford9 4.85, 84:stock 3.24
Re: Car Won't Start: Fusable Link

if you already have a schematic, disconnect the ecm, use a dvom and check power and ground at the ecm pins
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Old Aug 14, 2009 | 07:26 AM
  #8  
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From: morrow, ga
Car: 82 S10, 83 280ZX, 84 Z28
Engine: 355 smallblocks..na, 2.8 turbo
Transmission: 85:th350, 84:700R4
Axle/Gears: 85:ford9 4.85, 84:stock 3.24
Re: Car Won't Start: Fusable Link

my email is chevycamy@yahoo.com
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Old Aug 14, 2009 | 11:26 AM
  #9  
TimRS's Avatar
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From: McDonough, GA
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: PUMP UP THE FUSE

Originally Posted by NINÅ

See if you have power at the fuel pump relay pin A.

This pin needs to be ‘hot’ at all times regardless of the position of the key.

If it isn’t, there is an inline fuse or fusible link connected to an orange wire which you should find as you trace from the relay towards the battery.
[/b]


Excuse my ignorance, but where is the fuel pump relay? Is toward the rear under the car close the gas tank?
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Old Aug 14, 2009 | 07:48 PM
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From: NC
Car: 91 Trans Am
Re: Car Won't Start: Fusable Link

Near the brake booster on the firewall

There should be 2-3 depending on how many fans you have. The fuel pump relay will have a red wire lead with a black connector sticking out not connected to anything

Unplug it and test voltage on the orange wire, or simply supply 12v to the red wire and listen for the fuel pump to prime
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 10:43 AM
  #11  
TimRS's Avatar
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From: McDonough, GA
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Car Won't Start: Fusable Link

Originally Posted by Pocket
Near the brake booster on the firewall

There should be 2-3 depending on how many fans you have. The fuel pump relay will have a red wire lead with a black connector sticking out not connected to anything

Unplug it and test voltage on the orange wire, or simply supply 12v to the red wire and listen for the fuel pump to prime
Thanks Pocket. I'm gonna give this a try this afternoon. I'll post what I find.
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Old Aug 15, 2009 | 11:38 AM
  #12  
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Re: Car Won't Start: Fusable Link

You will need to replace the whole link. Make sure you install a link that is 4 sizes smaller than the wire it connecting to. Example, if your connecting to a 10 Gauge wire you will need to use a 14 Gauge fusable link. Hope this helps.

Jason Badley
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Old Mar 16, 2010 | 06:00 PM
  #13  
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From: Sweden
Car: 1989 IROC-Z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: Th700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Car Won't Start: Fusable Link

Originally Posted by Badley
You will need to replace the whole link. Make sure you install a link that is 4 sizes smaller than the wire it connecting to. Example, if your connecting to a 10 Gauge wire you will need to use a 14 Gauge fusable link. Hope this helps.

Jason Badley
isnt it possible to replace with regular (large AGU) fuses instead ?
Or isnt that possible to get a correct AMP fuse ?

People seem to have alot of trouble with fuse links...

Im working on replacing all old power cables to new (little larger) ones to prevent problems. only have 3 fuse links left to replace / or change to regular fuses.

Runned large AWG2 from battery to starter and same size from battery -> block and new cable from alternator to battery (little little bigger than stock)

Just left with the 2 small fuse links from starter to fusebox and the larger fuse link to fans and injectors...



Also did you solve your problem ? what was it ? its always good coming back telling if you found the problem or not.
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Old Mar 16, 2010 | 08:04 PM
  #14  
Badley's Avatar
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Re: Car Won't Start: Fusable Link

I Just rewired my whole car, a 68 Camaro which i switched over to Fuel Injection. I used fuseable links and relays throughout. I read up on some stuff from Mad Electrical and it made alot a sense. Is it the best way to go? I dont know, but after reading up on everyting I decided it was the best way for me. Heres a link to the Mad web site. http://www.madelectrical.com/

I was just answering this guys Question about replacing a fuseable link.
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