100 Amp fuse - check it

[mooey]

After sitting in a queue of traffic for some time yesterday we started to move off and there was a lot of coughing and spluttering from the Cerb just as if it was running out of fuel. Struggled on for a bit 'till it just died. Tried to restart but the starter would not engage just as if the battery was low. 100 Amp fuse I thought. No tools available so called for recovery. Got droped off at PPC in Melton. New fuse fitted and a boost to the battery and all was good. However, we did find that the reason for the failure was that both nuts holding the wires to each end of the fuse holder had worked loose. Having a loose connection causes a lot of heat when you draw current through it. This caused the fuse holder to melt and eventually the fuse to fail so no charge to the battery, flat battery then the car stops. I guess there was also a small chance of this causing a fire. So learn from my lesson and check that the fuse, fuse holder and cables are in good order and that the connections are tight.
P.S. blocking one lane on a dual carriageway, 50 MPH limit, for 90 minutes is not recommended. Lost count of the near misses even though aproaching traffic could see that the lane was blocked 4-500 metres in advance! At least 6 police vehicles passed by without stopping, even made the officer sitting in the speed camera (sorry safety camera) van laugh as they drove past. Knob.

[Storer]

I got a couple of spare 100amp fuses included with an order for other bits but never fitted them.

Now for the numpty question.

Where is the 100 amp fuse holder located (on a 1998 4.5 if this makes a difference)?

[< FORZA WEST]

Its at the top rear of the engine in the,central by the coil packs or above the starter motor - same sort of area....depends who fitted it at the factory hehehehe

[Storer]

Thanks. I'll have a look next time I'm tinkering.

[Nicholas Blair]

Pig of a job if your're all fingers and thumbs.

Carry spares all the time - touch wood, hasn't 'gone' for 4 months.

Cheers

Nick

[Mars]

Have you ever heard of any other car with a 100A fuse?

I *really* want a project Cerb now, for complete stripping and rebuilding *my* way. I'm certain the electrics can be simplified at the same time as increasing the power of some (electric window winders) and building reliability and serviceability into the system.

[Ireland]

Some people relocated the 100a fuse and more have eliminated it altogether.

A search on here should reveal all.