Fuse link HELP

[pwrwgn]

This weekend i was working on my wagoneer and one of the fuse links exlpoded/lit on fire. I ruled out the two that go to the alternator and the one that goes to the starter. It appears to fallow the harness across the engine bay(towards driver side). Where dose it go. It was an 18 gauge fuse link if that helps. What size fuse should i replace it with also.
Thanks alot Steve

[woodybeone]

I believe there are only two links. Both have connections at the starter relay and the alternator. One goes to the ignition switch and the other goes to the power accessory circuit breaker to power the tailgate,seats,&locks. You need to replace it with fusible link wire not plain wire. Also need to isolate and repair the problem that caused the link to burn.

[pwrwgn]

In my truck there are four links, or two pair. I cut out the one that fried and put in a fuse holder but i keep frying the fuses two. I can't seem to figure out where it goes. I have no Dash lights when i roll the key. But when i put the key in the dinger comes on. no crank also. What is wrong. None of my diagrams show a fuse link to the fuse panel or anthing.
Steve

[woodybeone]

We need to find out what you cut out. There are "fusible wire links" and "resistance wire links".
Dash lights are controlled by the dimmer switch and fused by a 3 amp ACC fuse in the fuse panel. No starter crank sounds like you lost the ignition feed to the starter relay or the relay is bad, solenoid is bad, or starter is bad.

[mdill]

A fusable link should be longer than 6" and
shorter than 12" give or take. The insolation on
link wire will not burn, and sould not burn though
as the wire inside melts. A standard fuse is not
a suitable replacment for a fuseable link, a
link wire will take a over load for a reasonable
abount of time ( on the order of seconds) and
not fail, a fuse on the other hand will blow
long before this, so a fuse will blow on every
short duration trasiant on the line where a fuseable
link will just shrug them off, yet still provide
protection when a real short happens.

Mike D.

[Bobby88GW]

Fusible link wire is available at NAPA.If you are going to use a fuse holder,use slow-burn type fuse.By all means,find out what is wrong.I would look along firewall for chaffed wire,and check key switch.