fused link / main fuse

[mandanny66]

Hi Folks

A guy at work recently bought a MK1, which he's in the process of restoring.
He's had the battery off, but when he re-connected it, he reversed the poles, and now has no power.
He came to me, as everyone at work seems to think I have the answer to every problem.
This is where I come to you guys for assistance.

I initially said that there would be a main fuse which has blown, but i'm now getting the impression that theres a fusable link.
I found an image for a MK2 fusable link. is the MK1 in the same place, or could anyone point me in the right direction, as I can't seem to find anything definitive for a MK1.

The guy comes back every morning saying that he can't see anything.
However, I suspect it's becuase neither of us know what exactly he should be looking for.

Thanks in advance.

[LimeyMk1]

http://manual.teq.org

Page 1041 of the manual has all the wiring diagrams for you. There is a fusible link which from what I recall is part of the main cable, along with other links in the engine bay fuse box.

[jimi]

http://www.mr2oc.co.uk/know-your-2.html ... kbartid=25



Bear in mind that diagrams linked to in the post above are for US (AFM) spec cars and are not always correct for UK (MAP) cars

[mandanny66]

I found a wiring diagram on Friday, which would indicate that the fused link could be a black wire.
I have seen that image, in fact I printed this off for him.


I understand that it is in fact just a wire, and quite possibly just looks like a normal wire, so would be easy to miss.
If the fused link has blown, will it be obvious.

[jimi]

It's not "just" a wire, it's a particular type/CSA of wire. Mr T used to do a replacement kit for it.
The article I linked to explains how to locate it and is accurate for UK cars, I know because I wrote the article and the picture is my car
Hard to miss, it's a length of wire soldered inline with the smaller of the two cables connected to the battery positive, the heavy cable goes to the starter.

[mandanny66]

Hi Jimi

I stumbled upon your post/photo ealier last week.
If it's blown, will it be obvious, ie will the sleeving be burnt out.

We sell fuses at work, so we sort of discussed (if he can find it) retro fitting a fuse holder and midi fuse.

I also stumbled upon something which gave the amperages based on the wire colour.

Pink 30 amp
Green 40 amps 0.50mm²
Red 50 amps 0.69mm²
Yellow 60 amps
Black 80 amps 1.25mm²
Blue 100 amps

[jimi]

It will almost certainly be obvious if it's blown, the ones I've seen had a physical break in the them. Don't have a pic of a MK1 link but this pic shows a blown MK2 link (blue wire)



IIRC the MK1 link is black and is 1.25mm² CSA

[mandanny66]

The wiring diagram I found last week would indicate that it's black and 1.25.
Thanks for the info thus far, I'll pass this on, hopefully, he'll find something.

[mandanny66]

Just a heads up folks.
The guy told me this morning that he finally located the fused link.
Bypassing it temporarily allowed the car to come live.

It was exactly where you said it was.

[mandanny66]

folks.

Yesterday he fitted a temporary link wire in place of the fused link.
The ignition now lights up, lights work, alarm works etc.
So initial conclusion would be that it's resolved, however, he says that it wont start.
Not cranking over.


The battery was on charge all night.

Any further pointers.

The car was running prior to the reversed pole incident.

[jimi]

Check Fuse AM2 (7.5A) in RB2 (engine compartment fusebox) it supplies the starter relay, if it's blown the engine won't crank.
Also check to see if the Starter relay (square relay in the same fusebox) is energising when the ignition is turned to the start position.

[mandanny66]

He's mentioned that he replaced the 7.5amp fuse two weeks ago, so he'll just double check the fuse and check the relay.

[jimi]

Getting your post count up by spamming random old threads is naff ! and dilutes the quality of the threads