The Mitsubishi Pajero Owners Club®

[Tony Norton]

1993 Pajero V46 LWB 2.8 tdi

Hi All,

Does anyone know for sure if there is a specific difference between a "Fuse" and a "Fusible Link". Most schematics use a different symbol and a different item description, but what, exactly, is the difference?

At the front right corner in the engine bay fuse box, at an angle to the rest of the fuses, are 2 fuses/fusible links. One (the foremost) is 60A, the other 100A. These are both of the type that are clamped with a small bolt at either end. I blew the 100A when replacing the alternator (prat!) and replaced it with a 100A fuse purchased from a local autoshop which, shortly after fitting, fried to a crisp. Purchased and fitted another of the same which, as soon as I started the engine, emitted smoke (it may have been steam if the fuse was damp, but I suspect it was smoke) from the top. Promptly removed it!

Further question, are these 2 devices (the 60A and 100A thingies) actually fuses, or fusible links contained in 'fuse' type housing? I've been Googling 'fusible link' and most of what I find seems to relate to Chrysler cars that fit an inline wire wrapped in a heavy lump of plastic. I've not seen anything like that on the Pajero.

At the moment I'm running the Paj with a made up link consisting of 2 tags from an old fuse having an appropriate number of lengths of domestic fuse wire soldered across them. With the engine running at 1000 rpm +, and the voltage at 14.0/14.4 volts, all lights full on (heads + spots) and the heater on, at which state I would expect the alternator to be punching out a fair bit of current, there is no heat whatsoever being generated in this improvised link.

My suspicion is that a 100A fuse may not be designed to continuously carry the kind of current that a fusible link would.

Is there any merit in my hypothesis?  

Thanks in advance

Tony N

[Google]

[Taraswolf]

You have more or less got it about the difference, the fuses are really a QUICK BLOW protection for the circuit ie: a 10amp fuse will blow if the circuit gets a surge/spike over the rating of the fuse where as the fuseable link wont and they only use fuseable links on high current circuits 30amp+ circuits so the links are pretty hefty when you compare it to a similar rated fuse, but DO NOT use fuseable links as a replacement for a fuse as you run the risk of burning the circuit out before the fuseable link MELTS  

[Tony Norton]

Thanks for that Taraswolf,

I understand what you say and can well imagine that, as, in the schematic for the alternator circuit, the 100A device is described as a fusible link not a fuse, a 100A fuse is likely to blow at the slightest provocation when receiving a spike from a 90A alternator.

It looks as though I may have to bite the bullet and pay whatever extortionate price the local Mitsi dealer wants for a 'proper' fusible link.

Thanks again

Tony N

[Taraswolf]

try a breakers if you have 1 near you or there are loads on eblur breakeing pajero's.

[Tony Norton]

Thanks for that,

all sorted now, but it did cost me £7.33 from the local Mitsi dealer, and I'm now carrying my 'bodge job' replacement in the glove locker - just in case.

Tony N

[Felix]

My local car parts place has all sorts of fusable links and fuses on their shelves, got my 80A one for about £3.