1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Fusible Link Conversion Thread

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-15-05, 09:31 PM
  #1  
Rotary Enthusiast

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
darkfrost's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Waterloo & Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Fusible Link Conversion Thread *pics*

Everyone knows what a pain it is to test, change, and search for replacements for the links. Some people change over to the 2nd gen fuse boxes to get rid of the pesky links. But... theres a much easier way!

Total Time: Less than a minute
Total Cost: Up to $6

This method is way easier than trying to swap over to another fuse box, with all the wiring and everything else. Its even cheaper than to go buy new links from the Mazda Stealership (which works out to about $20 for all three).

Heres what you need, go to any auto store, look on the shelf and find this type of fuse. I've seen them go for about $2 each. You can even rip these off at the junkyard from almost any engine fuse block in almost any car.

This is what they look like:


And, here's a shot of the back:




Here's a shot of the fuse next to the link...


Co-incidence you say? Yeah... probably. But it works!


Of course, you are going to need three of them, I used a 30,60,30 amp combination and have had no trouble with them. I've seen other posts around here that show different amperages, but I'll leave it open to suggestion as to what amp fuses to use. I've used the 30-60-30 combo for about 4-5 months now with no problems.



Now, the actual working part..

Rip out the old crusty, covered in dirt fusible links. You may want to hang on to them for the future just in case.



Now... once you've got all the old links out. Start inserting the fuses. Real simple . Start with the bottom first to make things easier. You may have to wiggle it around a bit, but it should slip in pretty easy.



Here's a shot of all three in place:


Now, celebrate! You're electronics work, you're headlights turn on, and are no longer stuck open! Have a drink and sit back knowing that you've gotten rid of those rotten fusible links.

These are a lot easier to change, and you can actually visibly see that they're blown rather than using a multimeter or feeling around the fusible link.




One more thing.... before anyone says clean up yer engine bay, or get rid of that A/C because its leetching power.. or fix all that rust... this is the parts car. And, a funny thing today too... I tried jacking it up in the rear-left with the stock jack, in the stock mounting position. The car starting going up.. then came crashing down... A whole lot of rust sprayed out the bottom... the jack poked a whole straight through... man, was I glad it happened before I stuck my head under there.

Last edited by darkfrost; 07-15-05 at 09:48 PM.
Old 07-15-05, 11:38 PM
  #2  
not sure anymore

 
pinkfloyd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: leawood,kansas
Posts: 1,182
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
nice wright up, but how did you get the fuse to stay in...did you just wire up the fusable link wires in the new fuse?
Old 07-15-05, 11:44 PM
  #3  
Rotary Enthusiast

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
darkfrost's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Waterloo & Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Thats the beauty of it. The fuse is a perfect fit. No modification is necessary at all, just a direct replacement of the link

Think of a male and female spade connection. Inside the fusible link box are the male spades. The fusible links and the replacement fuses use the female spade connection. The fuse just happens to slide right into the fusible link box perfectly. No need to modify anything!

Last edited by darkfrost; 07-15-05 at 11:46 PM.
Old 07-16-05, 02:49 AM
  #4  
I can has a Hemi? Yes...

iTrader: (2)
 
Directfreak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: 3OH5
Posts: 9,371
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Pretty slick. You get an "A".
Old 07-16-05, 03:19 AM
  #5  
Rotary Enthusiast

 
web777's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: LOS ANGELES
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You win the most ingenious/useful idea of the year!
Old 07-16-05, 03:35 AM
  #6  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
hammmy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Mill Creek, WA
Posts: 850
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cooper Bussmann (Buss) makes those. They even call them fusible links as well, and come in amperages of 20 up to 60, in even decades. I saw them at Schucks(/Kragen/Checkers) the other day.

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...4&page=1&pp=15
Old 07-16-05, 04:35 AM
  #7  
Seven Is Coming

iTrader: (1)
 
RotorMotorDriver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Washington
Posts: 6,503
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Mike-P-28 has been running those for years, but thanks for the write up!

~T.J.
Old 07-17-05, 12:11 AM
  #8  
Rotary Enthusiast

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
darkfrost's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Waterloo & Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by RotorMotorDriver
Mike-P-28 has been running those for years, but thanks for the write up!

~T.J.
Damn, lol, I thought it was original.
Old 07-17-05, 12:25 AM
  #9  
Stay away from my CT!!!

 
1985_RX-7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Giddings, Texas
Posts: 1,120
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Glad it didnt fall on you... Breaking news:Rotor head dies under a rotory powered car...
Old 07-17-05, 12:30 AM
  #10  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
iTrader: (2)
 
dj55b's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 6,122
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
what cars can i rip them off of? any civics lol ?
Old 07-17-05, 12:34 AM
  #11  
Rotary Enthusiast

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
darkfrost's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Waterloo & Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by dj55b
what cars can i rip them off of? any civics lol ?
Almost anything, I guarantee you will find them at the junk yard. Just pop open some engine fuse blocks.
Old 07-17-05, 12:41 AM
  #12  
Rotary Freak

iTrader: (5)
 
BigPimpin''s Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Hagerstown, MD
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Nice write-up! I'm on that first thing in the morning.
Old 07-17-05, 12:59 AM
  #13  
Boss**"You scare customer"

 
9d7gst's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ill be damn.
Old 07-17-05, 01:11 AM
  #14  
Rotary Enthusiast

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
darkfrost's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Waterloo & Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by 1985_RX-7
Glad it didnt fall on you... Breaking news:Rotor head dies under a rotory powered car...
Yeah... ouch, that would have sucked. Though the condition the car is in, im sure the part my face hit would have just disintigrated. I'll take a pic of the damage later and post it, theres like a neat pile of rust right where the jack broke through.
Old 07-17-05, 01:33 AM
  #15  
Too old to act my age

 
Rogue_Wulff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Tulsa, Ok.
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Dip me in dog doo, and roll me in cracker crumbs

I was wondering about those fuses, nice to see they actually work. Do they seem to plug in deep enough to get a solid connection? I have not had any problems with the fuse links, but I think I will grab a few of those, just in case.
I wonder if the junction block was used when designing those little fuse links. After all, the first gen has been known to have issues with those fuse links for years.................
Old 07-17-05, 01:36 AM
  #16  
Rotary Enthusiast

Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
darkfrost's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Waterloo & Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
They fit in nicely, they grab the blade in the box just fine. Its actually a good tight fit, just perfect. If it was just a co-incidence that they work so well... its a damn lucky one.
Old 07-17-05, 01:40 AM
  #17  
Too old to act my age

 
Rogue_Wulff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Tulsa, Ok.
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cool. When I first saw the pic of the newer style, I thought you was going to make jumper wires to connect them. I am happy to see I was WAY off target.
Thanks for sharing your find. 5 Thumbs up, my best rating.
Old 07-17-05, 05:05 PM
  #18  
Full Member

 
apexwarrior's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
? so you removed the cables and replaced the cables with fuses? I thought the part that works as a 'fuse' was the box. not the wires. So those wires are set to die out at a certain voltage?

I just want to know cus I am going through some **** with my car.
Old 07-17-05, 07:13 PM
  #19  
Senior Member

iTrader: (6)
 
Keith13b's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by apexwarrior
I thought the part that works as a 'fuse' was the box. not the wires. So those wires are set to die out at a certain voltage?
The "wires" are the fuse, and they burn out a at specific amperage.
Old 07-17-05, 07:36 PM
  #20  
Rotary Freak

iTrader: (5)
 
BigPimpin''s Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Hagerstown, MD
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Went outside and did mine this morning! Great idea! I had a 2nd gen fuse holder I was going to swap in but no need I just used the three fuses I needed out of it! Thanks!
Old 07-17-05, 07:50 PM
  #21  
Rotary Freak

iTrader: (4)
 
riceburner1r2001's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: riverside county
Posts: 1,758
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
what amps do i go to for each fuse i have a gsl-se
Old 07-18-05, 12:31 PM
  #22  
Too old to act my age

 
Rogue_Wulff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Tulsa, Ok.
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The haynes manual lists the fusable links as "0.5f and 1.25f" WTF is that sposed to mean?

Also, just a bump, in hopes of seeing this added to the archive.........................
Old 07-18-05, 02:17 PM
  #23  
Junior Member

 
l28etman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: san francisco
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The part I like best about that conversion is that no soldering is required! The links are pretty sensitive to voltage and a faulty solder will makeyou think you burned up your car! I like that one, just clean em up and stick em in. Im gonna do it this afternoon, figure I can just copy the color pattern from the pics on the first post. Good one man!!!
Old 07-18-05, 02:23 PM
  #24  
Full Member

 
apexwarrior's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
wow nice tight fit!! wonder why mazda didn't use them.. they only cost me 2.99 each @ consumer auto parts
Old 07-18-05, 05:53 PM
  #25  
1981 Mazda RX-7 GSL

 
Myc1972's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Rockford, Illinois
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Great tip!

How do i remove the fusible links without damaging them?
To keep them if they are still good, for an emergency?


Quick Reply: Fusible Link Conversion Thread



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:36 AM.