Re: Bah humbug! Santa brought me a melted fuse box...

["Harold McElraft <hmcelraft@xxxx>" <hmcelraft@xxxx>]

Travis

Interesting how the DeLoreans do this, isn't it? I have had to do a 
few of these and the most effective repair was to put a blade fuse 
in the circuit; i.e. go around the box. John H. is right, you should 
solder the splice. After you disconnect the battery, the fuse box 
comes up easily enough for you to find the pair going to the melted 
fuse in the block. Cut them and splice in a new fuse holder. The 
wires on the replacement fuse holders allow for enough wire to place 
them out of the way but yet be accessible.

I have a theory about why this happens on DeLoreans. It is because 
the battery is underneath the fuse compartment. There is a service 
bulletin about making sure the battery box vent is clear but, there 
is still not enough ventilation to keep out the vapors from the 
battery. The vapors cause contacts to corrode, the connections 
become ineffective, heat begins to build, and finally a meltdown. On 
cars that are driven every day, for example, I have seen no or few 
problems. But, let them set with doors and windows closed and this 
problem pops up regularly. The problem seems even more pronounced on 
cars where a battery tender or charger is used.

To prevent this problem on the remaining fuses in my car and to make 
sure the problem does not occur on other contacts I first put a 
switch on the battery to disconnect it when the car is going to set 
for any length of time. Next, I have replaced the fuses nearly every 
year and applied a little contact cleaner to the blades of the fuses 
and relays. So far so good (ten years of this routine).

Harold McElraft - 3354