Fuse off ground cable catching fire?
#1
Fuse off ground cable catching fire?
Had the weirdest thing happen today. First of all, Ive always had problems with this truck. Its an 87 f250 (previously diesel) converted to a 351 with a c6 trans. Driving it today to school the truck died. I figured I had ran out of gas since the gas gauge doesnt work. Poured gas in and a little in the carb to help her out but still no start. After a while of trying I noticed smoke coming out of the engine bay. The, what looks like a fuseable link off of the negative cable was melted. Taking the link apart I could not find a fuse inside, nor a spot for the fuse. My question is, what is this, and why would it melt? Never had this happen before. Needless to say my trucks still on the side of the road dead
#2
#3
This just means that your main ground cable is not properly grounded - all the current from your start attempts was trying to pass through that little fuse link - hence the fire.
Probably needs a new ground cable, etc, etc. Sounds like you got some serious junk there. Good luck!
Probably needs a new ground cable, etc, etc. Sounds like you got some serious junk there. Good luck!
#4
Fuse links don't actually contain a fuse, they ARE the fuse. What a fuse link is doing on a negative cable is beyond me... are you sure it just wasn't a melted wire? Fuse link look like regular wire sometimes, usually it'll have ratings printed on it but after a few years they all look the same.
Stock battery ground goes to the block like you said, and you added one to the frame which is great, but did you ground the chassis/body too? Starter current should never be running thru the body, and with your engine grounded like you say there shouldn't be a problem with it. IF your ground connections are in good shape, then maybe something other than the starter smoked your ground... which is probably why the truck died.
Stock battery ground goes to the block like you said, and you added one to the frame which is great, but did you ground the chassis/body too? Starter current should never be running thru the body, and with your engine grounded like you say there shouldn't be a problem with it. IF your ground connections are in good shape, then maybe something other than the starter smoked your ground... which is probably why the truck died.
#5
Fuse links don't actually contain a fuse, they ARE the fuse. What a fuse link is doing on a negative cable is beyond me... are you sure it just wasn't a melted wire? Fuse link look like regular wire sometimes, usually it'll have ratings printed on it but after a few years they all look the same.
Stock battery ground goes to the block like you said, and you added one to the frame which is great, but did you ground the chassis/body too? Starter current should never be running thru the body, and with your engine grounded like you say there shouldn't be a problem with it. IF your ground connections are in good shape, then maybe something other than the starter smoked your ground... which is probably why the truck died.
Stock battery ground goes to the block like you said, and you added one to the frame which is great, but did you ground the chassis/body too? Starter current should never be running thru the body, and with your engine grounded like you say there shouldn't be a problem with it. IF your ground connections are in good shape, then maybe something other than the starter smoked your ground... which is probably why the truck died.
#6
#7
It looks exactly like that! Only thing is, I have a Holley Carb?
Trending Topics
#10
#11
Thanks for the help guys! So I ended up getting the truck running. We got it towed home and cut the melted wire off. I ran a new, thicker, wire from the connector to the ground on the chassis. Checked all my old grounds, turned out to be rust on the frame where the ground connects. Cleaned it up and tightened it down good and the truck runs rough, but good once its warmed up. Hopefully she wont blow again!!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Fefanatic
2015 + Expedition & Navigator
5
11-16-2017 08:58 AM
acbruno1
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
10
04-10-2006 10:02 PM