64 barracuda fusible link
The main job of the fusible link is to open if the battery is accidently grounded.
For example if the insulation on the main feed to the headlight switch rubs off against a sharp edge under the dash.
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The link will turn to smoke almost instantly.
That is misleading. The fuse link does not blow if you actually ground "the battery." A better statement might be that the link will blow if some main feed in the harness is grounded. The reality is, the fuse link is damn poor protection, I will relate "an annoying story from the old days"
In the early 70's I was stationed at NAS Miramar, and my perfectly good 70 440-6RR got rear ended. While it was being "fixed" I was given a junker loaner by McCune Chrysler Plymouth. One cold morning I had started the loaner Valiant, complete with bald tires, and the Chief came in with his Columbo act........
"Del," he frowned and knitted his eyebrows, "I just have one question? Is your car supposed to be squealing and smoking?"
The alternator had stopped, and the worn belt was slipping and smoking. I shut it down, and not knowing A DIODE HAD FALLEN INSIDE THE ALTERNATOR, loosened the belt to examine. When I moved the pulley, the movement SHORTED THE DIODE. I got to sit there and watch the entire underhood harness go smoketypoo..........fizzzzzz'nnnnnszzzzzzzzsssssspppppttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttTTTTTTzzzzit!!!! AND THEN BLOW THE FUSE LINK
So I called the dealer and told them to send a tow truck and another loaner car. Instead, they sent the wetback with a beat up pickup truck and some jumper cables.
