Alternator Issue

[89Suburban]

Last night my alternator stopped working so I flipped the hood open and looked at it and wiggles some wires and it kicked back on. There is a heavy orange wire that goes into what looks like a fusible link and then comes out red and bolts to where the battery cable bolts on on that stud. Right where the orange wire goes into that link thing, it's soft and you can feel the wire is shot inside and getting weaker.

My question is can I cut that wire on either side of that thing and splice it. I don't exactly know what that thing is, if it is a fusible link or a diode or what, Help?

If it is a link can I cut it out and replace it with a new one or do I need it at all???

 

[RetroC10Sport]

it is a fusible link and yes, it can and should be replaced with another of the same amperage.

 

[Old77]

Yeah, I'd say splicing something like that probably wouldn't be the best idea

 

[crazy4offroad]

The fusable link has been eliminated on mine, but if you're not sure what caused it to blow I wouldnt eliminate it. Sometimes they just go bad from age though.

 

[89Suburban]

Can I replace it with a heavy blade fuse in place of the link? I have one with the same wire guage and a sealing rubber lid. I am sure it's just worn from age. It isn;t burnt or anything and the rest of the wire feels fine. Any idea what amperage fuse I should use? 30 or 40 enough? Thanks for all your replies duders.

 

[89Suburban]

Here's a pic of that fusible link taking a **** on me, anybody know what amperage I need to replace that?

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[bucket]

Looks like there's a number on it?

 

[crazy4offroad]

Looks like there's a number on it?

Looks like "40"?

 

[89Suburban]

The number on it is 16. It,s sideways on the top of it.

 

[RetroC10Sport]

16 gauge wire.

 

[Beatdown Z]

I would use the wire size to determine what size fuse to run. Looks to be 10 or 12 gauge wire. I would use a 25A for 12awg or a 30A for 10awg(feel free to correct me if wrong).

 

[Beatdown Z]

You could also try using a circuit breaker so you don't have to worry about having fuses.

 

[89Suburban]

The dark side of the force is telling me to cut that link out and strip the ends of the wires, and tie them together with a wire nut.

But I think I will be a good boy and install an in-line, 30 AMP, sealed, blade fuse that I have laying in the garage.

 

[89Suburban]

Cut the wore out fusible link out and installed a 30 amp fuse. Seems to be charging fine so far.

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[Old77]

Whatever works, eh???