fusible link !

Ok, so I turn the key on my 73 dodge charger, and nothing. Check lights, no power. Check battery, 12 V. Not surprising, as I had last drove it an hour earlier. Saw the fusible link off the start relay was fried. Found 1.5 ohm to ground on the fuseblock side of the link, and no fuses blown.

Only so many things it could be, so I started with isolating the alternator. Found the alternator output terminal shorted dead to ground. Spliced in a piece of 16 GA to ' field repair ' the fusible link. And drove it home.

I've never had an alternator short out before. Is this common?

It's not a common occurrence but I've seen it happen.

Just a thought check the main trunk link, found at the firewall where the harness has a stamped steel tie for the harness, if its loose it will overload the system..

New alternator is in and working fine. Really seems as if the old one just lost its mind. Trying to decide about the repaired fusible link. Leave it, replace it, or swap it with a circuit breaker.

Definately re-install some safety device! Fusible is probably the easiest. fwiw...

It's still in there, should still protect, just has some 16 GA spliced in. Is this an easily found part?

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Originally Posted by firebird77clone

It's still in there, should still protect, just has some 16 GA spliced in. Is this an easily found part?

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Yes, any good auto part store will have a selection of new fuse links and / or fusible wire. 16 ga. is marginal so don't wait to lng to make a permanent repair.