86 1/2 Nissan PU Electrical help....Fusible links

TheOmen · Jan 28th, 2005, 02:50 PM

Hello,
My wifes 86 1/2 Nissan PU with the Z24 motor has a strange problem.
Just last night I get a call from her, she is stranded. When I got down there, the motor was running, but no electrical power what so ever! Except for the backlight on the clock, and obviously the fuel pump and motor control.

She has no headlights, taillights, turnsignals, brake lights, driving lights, heater blower....etc. Sounds like the main constant on power coming into the fuse block right?

Anyway, i got behind her to block off the cops view....lol... to get her home of course. When she pulled out on the road....POOF!! Everything came back on, and remained on, even down our bumpy dirt road.

When we got home, she shut it off, and tried turning it back on....NODDA! No lights....Nothing. Still that way sitting there right now.

Here is what I checked:

All the cables, checked for corrosion.
Used a test light on all the main power wires coming off of the battery. Good
Checked the relays....well took em out, and checked for corrosion, tapped on them. All seemed good. ?
Checked all the fuses. Good
Checked the LOOPS, under the cover by the relays, all have power in and out.
Fuse block has no power except for the fuel pump ECU...Etc.
The fuses that are suposed to have constant power....do not.

And after all of that, here is my question..... Where are the darned fusible links in this beast? Any help you be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance!
Doug in Oregon

Faraday · Feb 9th, 2005, 11:43 AM

Doug,

This is the EXACT!! problem I am having now with my '86-1/2 PU, except mine is a SE-V6 4WD. I found also that the battery would not charge. I just had the alternator bench checked and it was OK. I decided that it probably was the fusible link, so i went searching for it. It is close to the battery along the thich white wire that plugs into the harness on the positive terminal. There is a loop of white wire that leads into a connector with a black wire (fusible link) in line. What i found was a very degraded connector, osensibly from overheating, but the link itself is not blown. I'm going to remove the connector/plugs and attach the link another way. I think the corrosion in the connector is to blame because I could not detect any voltage from the battery at the alternator. I'll let you know how it goes.

Jeffrey

TheOmen · Feb 10th, 2005, 08:11 AM

I got it figured out!
And it was that link you mentioned!! Mine was degraded from corrosion. The link pulled out of one side of the connector. After I fixed the problem, no more issues!!

Faraday · Feb 10th, 2005, 10:26 AM

Glad to hear you're back on the road. Me too! The plastic connector that the fusible link snaps into was very brittle, apparently from heat generated by the current going through it. I had to basically destroy the connector and attach the spade plugs (after thorough cleaning) bare, before insulating them with heavy cloth electrical tape. It was a hell of a mystery for a while. I thought the alternator was shot, but the weird electrical failure was something i had never experienced with a bad alternator.

TheOmen · Feb 11th, 2005, 08:16 AM

Yeah, I did a bad thing... I could not use the connector at all. And apparently, the part is very hard to get here. So I cut the thick wire and soldered them together for a quick fix. I did test for shorts first, and it's ok.

Anyone know the current draw for the main power going into the fuse box?
I want to put a big in-line fuse, or breaker in line to prevent any electrical fire.

**88pathoffroad** · Feb 11th, 2005, 10:43 PM

Why would you want to fuse a fusible link?

TheOmen · Feb 12th, 2005, 07:51 AM

because I had to cut the link out, it was corroded beyond repair. Sorry, maybe I didn't make myself clear.

Will · Feb 12th, 2005, 08:05 AM

Naw! No need to apologize. You made yourself quite clear. I had to do the same thing on a 86.5 I used to have. Haven't had to do it on the 92 yet. It looks like they improved the connector between 86.5 and 92. But anything degrades with time and heat.

SDScheller · Jan 18th, 2008, 12:18 PM

I have an 86 D21 pickup. Went out one morning and it cranked, but no lights. Soon discovered - no horn, fan, or turn signals either. Found your post, found the fusible link. Did a quick patch, and voila - I am back in business. Thanks

TheOmen · Jan 19th, 2008, 12:32 AM

Wow... blow the dust off of this post...hehehe

Glad it helped you.

My patch is still going strong. No worries here.