The stats:
1988 GTA Trans Am 350

The car hasn't really been driven in a very long time. Plates are from 2007 (put it that way, haha)

Anyway, I am trying to get her back on the road but I have a problem where the battery is draining overnight. I checked it for parasitic draw and it has it bad!

The meter is a 10amp meter and I have to pull it off quick because the wires heat up quickly and will melt the cheap meter I have.

So I went under to check the fuses and pulled out several when I felt one that was extremely hot, not blown but really hot. It is one of the silver 30 amp fuses and has about a 10 or 12 gauge orange w/black stripe wire coming out of it which was also really warm. I unplugged it and the battery has been fine since. When I try to plug the fuse back in it sparks like crazy at the fuse box.

Any idea on what this wire is? The car has an alarm on it that seems to still be working fine.

The circled area is where the silver 30amp fuse was and yes I know the one 20amp fuse is missing that runs the courtesy light (was trying not run the battery down because the door was open).




Thanks in advance, I used to be on this board years ago under the name BrianB, but I have a 4th gen now that pulled me away from my 3rd gen, but trying to get her going again and this is very concerning.

 

Thats not a fuse, it should be a circuit breaker like the one above it for the power windows. It runs the power accessories - door locks, demister, and power seat. Sounds like you have a problem/short with one of those.