Fusible Link or What?

[findmuck]

I was driving yesterday and all of the sudden my car turns off and as i roll i start to see smoke coming from the left portion of hood. Where battery and fusible link are. I pulled the car over and smelt something strange from the area. When i turn the ignition i get nothing, no dash lights, no crank, no chime like before but the headlights still work. The car is a 1983 Sentra and i assume the fusible link is the culprit. Just would like a second opinion. I already checked battery terminals, fuses, cables to battery, starter and coil. I'm still quite a novice to it all so my judgement might not be the best but things seemed fine. I will run it through again though before anything else. Reason i feel it is fusible link is because the smoke came from where that area is but if it was blown would i still get headlights like i do? Would a short cause a fusible link to blow? 

Thanks :thumbup:

[hosestop@msn.com]

The starter or alternator is probably shorted .

[banzai510(hainz)]

to ck a fusable link I would put a volt meter(test lamp) from the starter lug and see if it feeds up to the fuse box.

 

the pos bat is connected to the starter so then trace back till you loose 12volts or the test lamp DONT WORK. However your lights works so either you have mulitple links or its still working if you have lights.

 

check the fuses in fuse box also. If starter dont work ck the wire to the starter. Its routes 12volt when key is in Start.

 

Im doing a hail mary but I wold clean the batt cables at the battery and the ground where the blk cable bolts to.

[findmuck]

Thanks guys, Ill check it after work! If starter or alternator being shorted would they be broken or would current just not run through them and all i have to do is fix the wire thats clipping.

And i thought the lights might work but not anything with ignition because lights are wired directly to constant 12v and dont pass through the fuse box ? (this is why you can turn your lights on when the keys arent even in the car?)

Thank you guys regardless

[findmuck]

 

to ck a fusable link I would put a volt meter(test lamp) from the starter lug and see if it feeds up to the fuse box.

 

the pos bat is connected to the starter so then trace back till you loose 12volts or the test lamp DONT WORK. However your lights works so either you have mulitple links or its still working if you have lights.

 

check the fuses in fuse box also. If starter dont work ck the wire to the starter. Its routes 12volt when key is in Start.

 

Im doing a hail mary but I wold clean the batt cables at the battery and the ground where the blk cable bolts to.

 

 

The starter or alternator is probably shorted .

 

 

[findmuck]

 

to ck a fusable link I would put a volt meter(test lamp) from the starter lug and see if it feeds up to the fuse box.

 

the pos bat is connected to the starter so then trace back till you loose 12volts or the test lamp DONT WORK. However your lights works so either you have mulitple links or its still working if you have lights.

 

check the fuses in fuse box also. If starter dont work ck the wire to the starter. Its routes 12volt when key is in Start.

 

Im doing a hail mary but I wold clean the batt cables at the battery and the ground where the blk cable bolts to.

 

 

The starter or alternator is probably shorted .

 

[findmuck]

to ck a fusable link I would put a volt meter(test lamp) from the starter lug and see if it feeds up to the fuse box.

 

the pos bat is connected to the starter so then trace back till you loose 12volts or the test lamp DONT WORK. However your lights works so either you have mulitple links or its still working if you have lights.

 

check the fuses in fuse box also. If starter dont work ck the wire to the starter. Its routes 12volt when key is in Start.

 

Im doing a hail mary but I wold clean the batt cables at the battery and the ground where the blk cable bolts to.

 

 

The starter or alternator is probably shorted .

[banzai510(hainz)]

lights will still go thru a fuse box. but not the switable side unless key is ON

 

 

Datzenmike will know more about the later cars as I think they might go thru relays and have more than 1 fusable link

[datzenmike]

There are likely three fusible links. Possibly more but everything... EVERYTHING (but the starter) has to run through a fusible link.

 

 

One to the ignition switch which turns on things like engine, radio, heater, wiper

One for the fuse box for things that are powered at all times like brake lights, horn, interior lights, emergency 4 way flasher, clock and charging system.

One just for the headlights.

 

 

All the wiring from the fuse box is protected by fuses but what about the wire from the battery that goes to the fuse box??? If you were in an accident that wire could be crushed and grounded allowing hundreds of amps to flow heating the wire like a toaster and starting a fire. (in my scenario you are trapped in the car)  Headlights are fused but you have to get power to the fuses.

 

 

Look on the positive battery post somewhere there will be a plug with 4" long Green or Black wires. maybe Red (color coded for the current they carry) These are specially made wires with a coating that resists catching fire when the wire inside melts. They may look melted or not but check them for continuity. Replace only with an exact same link.

[findmuck]

The starter or alternator is probably shorted .

 

 

to ck a fusable link I would put a volt meter(test lamp) from the starter lug and see if it feeds up to the fuse box.

 

the pos bat is connected to the starter so then trace back till you loose 12volts or the test lamp DONT WORK. However your lights works so either you have mulitple links or its still working if you have lights.

 

check the fuses in fuse box also. If starter dont work ck the wire to the starter. Its routes 12volt when key is in Start.

 

Im doing a hail mary but I wold clean the batt cables at the battery and the ground where the blk cable bolts to.

Thanks for giving your opinion guys! As soon as i opened my hood after work (in the daylight and not a dark walgreens parking lot)

 

 

 

There are likely three fusible links. Possibly more but everything... EVERYTHING (but the starter) has to run through a fusible link.

 

 

One to the ignition switch which turns on things like engine, radio, heater, wiper

One for the fuse box for things that are powered at all times like brake lights, horn, interior lights, emergency 4 way flasher, clock and charging system.

One just for the headlights.

 

 

All the wiring from the fuse box is protected by fuses but what about the wire from the battery that goes to the fuse box??? If you were in an accident that wire could be crushed and grounded allowing hundreds of amps to flow heating the wire like a toaster and starting a fire. (in my scenario you are trapped in the car)  Headlights are fused but you have to get power to the fuses.

 

 

Look on the positive battery post somewhere there will be a plug with 4" long Green or Black wires. maybe Red (color coded for the current they carry) These are specially made wires with a coating that resists catching fire when the wire inside melts. They may look melted or not but check them for continuity. Replace only with an exact same link.

I like your responses, I always learn something new that i know I will have some debate with someone about how something works and refer back to a comment you left on my post. 

Thanks Datzenmike for always informing me with my noobness lol :thumbup: