Another fusible link thread...

[flbuick]

OK, my cooling fan is not working. Went to Vortex Buicks and did the troubleshooting. Found that the fusible link was bad. So I replaced it and it went bad again. So maybe I had the wrong size and replaced it again with 16g, which should be correct. When tested by grounding out the coolant switch connector, the fan runs but when I take it for a ride and get it to temp, the fusible link popped.
Just to answer the upcoming questions;
I replaced the relays and removed the relay that allows the fan to run after the car is shut off
I checked the ground at the fan... seems good
I took the high/low resistor out of line
When I put 12v to fan she runs
No power at the red wire at the relay (because link popped again)
Either there is a short, if so looking for suggestions on where it could be, or the fan draws too much at startup. Or, looking for solutions here...

 

[Nick Micale]

According to my sources a 14 ga. fusible link wire, not a regular wire, should be used with a 10 ga power wire.

Casper's also has the proper fusible links for 10 ga. wires bringing power to the fans and dash which is used for the power wires at the starter post on a GN.

 

[flbuick]

Thats good info. I had read on other psots that it is a 16ga. So maybe I will try 14ga.
Looked at the Caspers relocation kit and will most likely buy one but not sure if that would cure my problem. If it would $100 is cheap
Thanks

 

[GNRick]

Instructions with fusible link says it should be two sizes smaller than the wire it is protecting. So 14 is too sizes smaller than 10. Maybe your fan is old and is drawing too much current? If so I would recommend dual Spal fans. Sold on Ebay from authorized dealers (or were when I bought mine years ago).

 

[salvageV6]

Factory is 16AWG 4 sizes smaller than the 12AWG it protects.

Metric size is 1 for the link, 3 for the wires it protects.

 

[flbuick]

See, thts where the confusion is: if it requires a 16g fusible link, I've got a short or fan motor going bad. If it requires a 14g fusible link then I replaced it with too small 16g, thats my problem, and solution

 

[salvageV6]

I got the info. from the service manual and I haven't heard that information to be wrong over the years.

 

[flbuick]

OK, I'll replace fan motor and try that. Thanks

 

[salvageV6]

If you can run the fan ok with a 30 A fused power lead, and it doesn't blow the fuse, it's probably a short in the wiring.

The fan, if bad, should pop a fused jumper +12 lead as well as the fusible link.