Could it be a fuseable link? My '85 has two in that area which I replaced a few years ago with inline fuses after the links blew from old age.

 

Could very well be! What ampage did you use? I saw a 30 on the one I pulled out, but didn't know if maybe that had something to do w/ p/n or something..

~Derek

 

I agree with an earlier post that you should check every-thing on the car and figgure out what is not working now.
But I also have this wire on my 87 and my 84... There are 2 feeds directly from the battery. One goes to the terminal block behind the battery and feeds most main components needing constant 12v. The other attaches to the front harness and feeds head lights, horn, and a couple others also needing constant V (this is what it looks like you blew to me). I can't tell from your pics if it is batt. side or lead side of conector but since both on the new replacement cables are male i would guess batt. side. If it is batt side you can replace the the entire batt. cable to get better conections but you will probably still need to find a local company that carries weather-pac conectors to make a harness of 2 singles going into a dbl or some other arragement since GM now only sells one cable to cover 84-89(?) and there were variations even in single years by options. So if you are realy good at splicing and SOLDER the conection you should be able to get away with just puting in a new fusible link(the other blk barrel in the pics) and a new conector... it is up to your skill.
BUT replacing the entire cable is a MFB !

Good luck to you, and please let us know if head-lights horn etc. work. Even check fan(s) for voltage at relay(s).

 

theres that connector and that round black tootsie roll thing in series with the wire, i think is a fusible link. Why didnt that pop instead of that wire? very wierd. I would just splice a fused wire between the battery and the red wire. All fixed. Still not sure what that is for. I know that behind the battery is a junction block where many red wires connect from a main battery source most have fusible links.

 

According to the wiring diagram for my car, there are three cables coming out of the positive terminal. The big one goes to the starter, one goes to the power junction aft of the battery, and the final one goes to ECM and through a fusible link to the fan relays. I do not have a fusible link on the ECM line side, so that looks like it might be your fan relay wire. Replacing the battery cable is a PITA (I'm attempting that now) , so splicing and soldering would be preferable.

 

either the fusible link going to the tower behind the battery-which I doubt, because that supplies a constant 12Volts to several systems...or the fusible link going to the main fan relay.After coffee I'll try to take a look at my 87.I'd be tempted to start it up and get the temp up to where your fan comes on and see if it still functions.

 

Aaron's is right about 3 wires, Main cable and 2 feeds....I am just used to not counting the 00cable when counting feeds. I still cant understand why that fusible link right next to the blown wire did not pop....? But i have seen it happen before. That is why i dont like the barrel type links...I use the smaller wire type.

 

I'm leaving from work in a few to catch a class, so I'll stop by the auto parts store on the way back and see if I can find any fusible links, which look like they'd work.

Thanx for all the help, guys!

If I can't find it, then I'm sort of stuck buying this cable that the parts guy @ the GM dealer ordered on my behalf @_@

~Derek

 

I have an 88 as well. I looked last night and I don't see anything like that on mine. That "connector" looks like a fuseable link. Kind of like a heavy duty fuse. It is definetely a GM connection. Fuseable links are used where there is a heavy duty current draw that a fuse can't handle.

 

Well I went out and bought a 30-amp heavy duty inline fuse and put it in as a temporary. I checked the shop manual for my dad's '84 and it says that it goes to the fan. My fan is kicking on with no problem. I seem to recall it not starting before.. So anyways, I would like to thank EVERYONE who helped =)

I got that cable from GM. Turned out to be a battery cable for a '97-'00! I'm returning it tomorrow and having a little talk with the guy who ordered it Maybe I can work out some kind of deal with them? I doubt it! :lol

My only problem now is that there is a LOT of grey smoke coming from the tail pipes.. I'll have to see if that problem sticks with it tomorrow. The '88 hadn't been started in a few days AND it's been raining for the past 2.. I have a feeling that might be a combined factor in it @_@

Thanx again to all! =)

~Derek