<VV> Electrical Issue

[Matt Nall]

From: Steven J. Serenska <corvair at serenska.com>


    Hello VVers:
    
    Situation:
    
      
66 Corvair Corsa 140
        
      
      
HRPT fried/melted many years ago.  At that time, someone        bypassed it and put in an inline 30 amp fuse.
        
      
      
Car has not been on the road for 1-2 years.  Old battery was        dead (of old age, nothing else).
        
      
      
During the last drive 1-2 years ago, the car cut out 10 feet        from the garage and I coasted it in.  I could tell that it was        something other than a dead battery, but I considered myself        lucky and just left it.
        
      
      
I bought a new battery today.
        
      
      
I examined the inline fuse and it was not just blown, but was        black and charred.
        
      
      
I scraped off the black with a file and put a new 30A fuse in        the socket/holder.
        
      
      
Power was restored.
        
      
      
I turned it over several times (over 30-60 seconds) and it        very nearly started, but then power went out again.
        
      
      
The fuse had not blown, so went to the parts store and        bought/installed another fuse socket/holder.
        
      
      
The new socket restored power.  I tried to start it several        times but each time, the engine would start and the fuse would        immediately blow.
    
    
At this point, when I replace the inline fuse, the power works      fine, lights come on, dome light, radio, etc. all work.
    
I can start and crank and the fuse does not blow.
    
The moment that it appears to start, however, the fuse blows.
    
    
The 30amp fuse was in there for about 12 years, so I don't think      the size of the fuse is the issue.
    
    What would cause a fuse to blow like that?  Where should I start    looking?
    
Thanks in advance for your help.
    
Steven J. Serenska