Fuseable links - School me
 

Hoping some of you Toyota guru's can help me out. I recently bought an 87 4Runner with a SAS done already, for short money. Problem was, it didn't run. So after puttering around and looking things over, I came to discover that this truck was originally a carbed version and has a FI motor swapped in. Upon further investigation (and the help of my new handy Toyota FSM and wiring diagrams) I find that the truck is missing the main fuseable link from the positive battery cable to the RE2 relay box on the right fender.

Here comes the question part.

Can I a large in-line fuse (say 60 amps) in place of a factory fuseable link, or do I need it to be a slow melting like OEM? It was suggested that I use a large fuse like for a car stereo system and a decent gage wire. LAst thing I want to do is set my truck on fire. So is this an acceptable method? My local toyota dealer couldn't seem to find a fuseable link in their system for that old a truck. :dunno:

Show me the way Oh great purveyors of Toyota knowledge....:bowdown:

87 Carbed? I dont think so....

BTW, use a factory fuse. Cutting and splicing in aftermarket stuff just makes a mess, and can be a big risk.

whats strange about that? they offered the caebed version till like 88 or something like that, as far as i know

as to your question i would try to get a OEM one, but i dont know what problems, if any would come from using a fuse

In the 4runners? once again....i dont think so.

What is the VIN, i can tell you if it was carbed or not

I'll have to look when I get home. I'm 99% sure everything on the truck says 22R.

[QUOTE=DeathCougar;50464466]87 Carbed? I dont think so....

I have an 1987 that was carbed also. Everything looked factory to me before I as I was taking it apart. If I still have the title, I will post the VIN

you can purchase fusible link wire.
id do that before a slo-blow fuse. (be sure to match the fuse to what the link amp rating was)

PM sent with VIN.

I really hate fusable links. Why can't they just use a big fuse?! :bang:

Isn't it just a big plastic fuse? Like a 60 or 80 amp fuse? I didn't think they used fusible links anymore in 1987?!

what do you mean use fusible links anymore in 1987.....there are still fusible links essentially ;)

well, i suppose thats true...but a fusible link as I know it is a wire designed to short out at a certain amperage, not the plastic fuse with the wire in it that know today. Lol.

As far as I can tell it's still a "old style" set-up. I'm going to try another Toyota dealer today.

We've also confirmed that some 87's did in fact come carbs. :bigok:

[hijack]

Running a fuseable link for my offroad lights instead of an in-line fuse is not going to set my truck on fire, right?

[/hijack off]

I'm no expert, but it seems to me a fuseable link is just a cheap way for the manufacturer to put a fuse very close to the battery. I think you can get the same protection with an inline fuse of the appropriate size and if it blows its a lot easier to change than a fuseable link.

I've found the Monster Power inline fuse holder for high-end stereo installs to be the most reasonably priced of the 60-100 amp sized inline fuses.
http://thumb7.webshots.net/t/16/17/0...7ZprggH_th.jpg

You can now purchase 50-100-150-200 amp circuit breakers for such use; I bought a couple off ePrey...they are much easier to reset than having to find a fuse.

http://search.ebay.com/circuit-break...ageNameZRC0022

For my lights with 100w non-HID bulbs I have a 10ga wire with a 25A fuse in the link...one powering 2 lights, the other powering 1. Just wondering since this is the first wiring job I've ever done.

That's a very similar set-up to what I purchased, but have yet to install, Mt Goat.

I understand the bidggest difference between a fusible link and a regular fuse is that the fusible link is a slow melt off, where the fuse just pops at a short or an amperage spike. At least that's my understanding, but again, I'm no expert either.

I was hoping for some of the MT's to chime in with their thoughts (No offense implied if anyone that HAS responded is a Master Tech.)

ok here the easyest way to fix this man im just scared that noone said this yet......go to a jusk yard and steal one thats it that easy come on now!!


(stealling is illeagle i dont say its ok if you get cought i didnt say it was ok nor am i heald liable for any thing that might come your way if you do this is just an idea nothing more!!)

stolen or not, junkyard is still a great place to score random-ass parts like that...

just buy some fusible link wire at autozone and be done with it...

-shaeff