Blown Main Fusible Link

[Skidmark]

Put a quick disconnect for the battery in, Buy a fire extinguisher, and hard wire past the fuse. If something catches then you will know what it is.
Or get your handy dandy multimeter out and start tracing with a wiring diagram and a manual. Replace battery too.

Later
Mike

[SimonTuffGuy]

I'm going to try a new battery and see what happens. If the fuse keeps blowing, then I'll need to keep searching.

[SimonTuffGuy]

Well... I didn't feel like swapping the batteries between my Jeep and the Festiva. I yanked the battery out and took it down to Advance Auto to see if they could test it. The test confirmed the battery was fine, but just needed an hour long charge. Brought it home and it measured 12.20 on the volt meter. Hooked it up and bolted it back down, replaced the fuse up front and it runs...... PERFECTLY!

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I've since removed that crappy little heater from the car. If I need heat, I'll take a pack of hot hands along for the ride.

[FB71]

fyi, 12.20v is only about 50% charged. Fully charged is 12.65v.

[jglutz]

^^perfect.
Simon: the problem might not be the problem...maybe itsd the conections you just re-did?!?!?!?!
The battery load testers they use at McParts stores ar not very good....a good load tester will trash a marginal battery....something thier lawyers/accountants at mcwon't allow.

[Skidmark]

Sounds like some on here knows their chit. If everything keeps going good then great... But if prob comes back, maybe in different forms, then "replace battery" option could be the first thing to do. Good Luck. If that doesn't help then turbo it. If you have already done that then put a bigger turbo on it!

Later
Mike

[SimonTuffGuy]

As long as the car runs and it's blowing $3+ fuses... I'm happy. If it keeps blowing them again, I'll switch to a new battery.

As for the turbo... The engine is built. I'm thinking about a 100 shot though.

[cheetah85]

Hell Everyone,

I am the guy who used the 10 guage wire in place of the 30 amp fuse on the main fuse block.

After reading this forum you guys convinced me to buy a new battery, and a 30 amp blade type fusible link. I installed both and now my fuse does not blow.

I think that the new battery solved the problem.

I still have a problem with my automatic seatbelt fuse blowing (Another Forum), but this is the first time in three years that my system is finally safe.

Thanks everyone for the great advice.

[cheetah85]

Main 30 amp fuse and Seatbelt 30 amp fuse problem FIXED!

I replaced the Passive Restraint Box (Little Black Box under the driver's seat), with a new one I ordered from Festivamotorsports.com for $29 including shipping, and it solved not only my automatic seatbelt problem but my main fuse in the engine compartment no longer blows.

As in the previous post, I also purchased a new battery which also probably had something to do with the fix.

I recommend trying one of these boxes if your main 30 amp fuse in the engine compartment and/or your 30 amp seatbelt fuse in your fuse box keeps blowing.

[SimonTuffGuy]

Glad that fixed it cheetah! I would've had one of those passive restraint boxes from my uncles parts car I would've given for free.

But, glad you got it working!

[dfestiva]

Yep, it's happened to both mine, and my bro's festivas. If you drain the battery like leaving the lights on, etc. this seems to happen. Once you get the battery recharged it'll be ok. A couple years back it was happening quite often, and learned a new battery at that time fixed the problem.