1981 Almost caught on fire
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 377
Likes: 41
From: Highland IN
1981 Almost caught on fire
My father in law has an 81 and had a terrible smell of smoke. Found a burned wire at the fusible link in the battery compartment. I didn't look at it real close, but what would cause this? He has not touched the battery for a long time, just drives it. The fusible link needs to be replaced, but I sure would like to know what caused it to burn. Any ideas?
Chris
Chris
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: Carrollton TX
My guess would be a bad ground somewhere due to corrosion, or a short caused by cracked insulation/crimped strain relief on wiring upstream (or both). I wouldn't think that anything more then general age and wear would be the culprit but I'll let the experts chime in.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,112
From: Crossville TN
Might be the power wire to a sound system. If it has an aftermarket stereo system in it, the installer may not have put a separate fuse in the line. In that case, if a short develops, that feed wire becomes a "fusible link". 
Instructor
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: Carrollton TX
Good catch gkz I totally missed that, I was picturing one of the links in the engine bay. I'd say more investigation is in order in the wiring as it sounds like some splicing has been going on.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 377
Likes: 41
From: Highland IN
It is the connector shown above. I think it is the splice connecting the battery to the alternator. I am going to take the alternator off and have it checked. I disconnected the battery when running and it died. So something is wrong there. Am I right with the cable going from the alternator to battery?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 377
Likes: 41
From: Highland IN
So I checked the alternator and it was fine, checked the wire, it was good. looks like the connection was loose and caused it to heat up. Changed the connector on the battery and hooked it all back up and took it for a drive and all is good