How do I know if my fusible link is blown?

The fusible link is essentially an in line fuse on the positive terminal of the battery. To determine if the fusible link has been blown , one test lead of your ohmmeter should be on the positive terminal of the battery and the other test lead should be on the end of the fusible link going to the circuit it protects.

What happens when the fusible link goes bad?

When it fails, it will break the continuity in the rest of the circuit, preventing damage to other components down the line. A fusible link typically costs a couple of bucks and can be replaced in 30 minutes.

Can you bypass a fusible link?

If you already know what it was and fixed it, fusible links can be purchased at auto parts stores and installed in the same amount of time you would take to perform the bypass. The couple dollars saved bypassing it are not really worth the fire risk if something should occur.

Can I replace a fusible link with a fuse?

A fuse will not work, you must replace with a fusible link. A fusible link is a solid wire (but smaller awg) placed in a current carrying line where there should NEVER be a dead short. Fusible links—also spelled fuseable and fusable—serve a similar purpose to a fuse.

Can a car start with a bad fusible link?

Although the ignition will remain safe, you will face issues with the electrical components. As the fusible link has gone bad and broken the circuit, there won’t be any flow of current and the vehicle won’t start. Don’t get confused with this problem with the starting motor issue.

What is the difference between a fuse and a fusible link?

One difference between a fusable link and a fuse is that the link is bare while the fuse has the link in some type of enclosed package. As a general rule, a fusible link is made of wire that is four gauges higher (smaller) than the rest of the circuit, making it the weakest link in your electrical chain.

How often should fusible links be replaced?

once a year
All Fusible Links shall be replaced once a year. The Links shall be replaced sooner during annual inspection if the conditions in (4) exist. The Fusible alloy that is used in the manufacturing of the Fusible Links undergoes a phenomenon known as Creep or Cold flow.

Can I use a fuse instead of a fusible link?

What is the purpose of a fusible link?

A fusible link is a short piece of insulated low-voltage cable within an automotive wiring harness that is designed to protect the harness in applications where a fuse is unsuitable.

Does the length of a fusible link matter?

According to this Fusible link FAQ: What size replacement fusible link should be used ? The automotive service industry recommends using the same gauge and length as the blown fusible link after the cause of failure is corrected. Ensure the size/length you put back in is the size/length you took out.

Where are the fusible links on a GM Truck?

For what it’s worth, GM uses 5.0 mm sq. fusible links on their factory auxiliary battery option for the charging wire. Two, actually. One between the battery and the relay, and the other between the relay and the starter. In additon, GM has a 40 amp Mega fuse protecting the loads from the Auxiliary battery.

Why is there no fuse at the fusible link?

Ok so the wire from the positive post on the battery to the alternator corroded away. well it happened at the fusible link. i replaced the whole wire with a new 6ga. wire from the battery to the alternator. There is now no fuse there. is this a problem?

What kind of Fuse does a GM truck use?

In additon, GM has a 40 amp Mega fuse protecting the loads from the Auxiliary battery. Fusible links function differently than many fuses. It should be of interest to you why the factory choses fusible links for the main high current starting and charging circuits, versus fuses and circuit breakers elsewhere. Fuses of all types…

How big is a fusible wire for a charger?

In general, fusible links are sized 2 guage sizes less than the parent wire they protect… so two wire guage sizes smaller than 6 guage would be 10 guage. And 10 guage is equivalent to 5.0 mm sq. For what it’s worth, GM uses 5.0 mm sq. fusible links on their factory auxiliary battery option for the charging wire. Two, actually.