There is a red and black wires running to a fusible link and only one wire coming out of the link. It says fusible 16ga. The cable has been spliced multiple times by previous owners. Every time I connect that wire to the big positive post of the starter, it's fine. But when I connect the battery, that wire melts, quite instantly. I need help, my car doesnt work without that wire

 

Find the short to ground !

 

Would it be unusual to have both a red and a black wire going to the fusible link?

 

It’s been spliced who knows could be a black fusible link.

 

Other than battery cables, black wires usually go to ground. Try it without the black wire on the starter. There SHOULD be 2 red wires going to the positive stud on the starter along with the positive battery cable...

 

okay so was remembering incorrectly, it is actually two red wires into one the others work fine. as you can see this wire has been spliced by a previous owner. everything past the rubber "fusible 16ga" tag is melting off

 

where would this wire happen to come from?

 

Fuse box ,that’s the link connection

 

the fusebox under the dash? if so why dont wiring diagrams show that the starter connects to the fusebox?

 

To c100 to fuse box look at power distribution

 

im sorry what are you saying. this is my first time doing wiring

 

It does show that, essentially, if you understand how to read the service manual. It's in the power distribution section

 

Where would the c100 be located under my dash

 

If a fusible link melts, that means there is a HIGH amperage draw, this is usually a direct short to ground. There is really no way for us to help you with that.
You can try replacing the link, pull ALL the fuses in the fuse box and re-connect to the starter. If it still blows that means you have a short to ground somewhere in the circuit leading to the fuse box, or possibly the headlight, starter crank or ignition circuits since those circuits do not have fuses and are only protected by the link.

 

C100 is at the firewall on the LH side next to the brake booster

 

So what seeing is that my best option is to track every inch of that wire throughout the engine bay for a cut in the wire. And if that doesnt work , look at the fuse panel?

 

Please don't take this as an insult, because it's not, , , , You are, training wise, about as qualified to repair this as you are to be doing brain surgery. You say this is your first time doing wiring, well, it takes quite a while to learn the skills needed to troubleshoot a problem like this and I honestly think you may be better off finding an honest person who knows automotive electrical and paying to have it fixed . There are so many pitfalls that you could encounter taking stuff apart looking for a short that may not even be visually obvious to a trained eye that no one can produce an easy list for someone whose never dealt with car wiring.

Like I said, I'm not trying to be a dick or diss you for what you don't know, I just think you may do better farming this job out VS taking stuff apart yourself......

 

You could isolate the circuit and disconnect c100 ohm the shorted wire to ground . If open the issue is on the other side of the bulkhead.