Blowing my IGN fuse bad on '73 Z

[CamH]

Hey guys, I need a hand with the wiring on my 240Z. Recently I have been trying to get the wiring working properly. The whole system is very shaky and annoying due to the 36 year old wiring. I recently got the head lights half way working, but have begun blowing the fuse marked IGN which also happens to run some of the gauges and four way flashers, I believe.

Anyways, I don't know where the wires coming off of the fuse block go exactly, and I need a hand figuring it out. I've already tried disconnecting my gauges (oil pressure, water temp, fuel) and emergency flashers. I think this fuse also runs the voltage regulator, but I have that jumpered off because I am using a ZX alternator (could this be causing the issue? tried with voltage regulator and that doesn't work either!)

Anyways, the wires coming off of the fuse block are solid green and black with a white stripe.

Here are some pictures of the black with white wire that I'm dealing with. I only took pictures of it because the green wire is nearly impossible to trace due to the amount of green wires in these cars and also because the black with white wire seems to be severely melted due to the fuse failing improperly and continuing to operate after it should not have:

Large part of wiring harness underneath far passenger side of dash.

Top of that part of the harness.

Melted up fuse block.

Wire coming directly from fuse block. It's hard to tell in the picture but it is badly melted, and there is slack all around the inner wire.

Same melted wire coming out of the same connector set.

Picture of underneath side of melted fuse block and both wires circled.

I appreciate any help that you guys may offer. Thanks in advance!

Edited July 1, 2009 by CamH

[JimmyZ]

Sorry to hear about your wiring nightmare. When I took my Z completely apart I found that the harness had begun to rub the firewall. Check the rubber grommet and condition of the wires in places where the harness has to go through a hole. (Check radiator support holes for your light issues) Let's hope that the wires havent gotten so hot that the isulation is compromised inside your loom. (Wires fused inside loom) Such a thing might cause the wire to burn/get hot before the fuse blew.

Now for questions... Have you rewired/reattached any of the steering column wires?

Is your ignition sytem wired right? Has the car run prior to this fuse blowing incident?

2c

Jim

Edited July 1, 2009 by JimmyZ

[CamH]

Sorry to hear about your wiring nightmare. When I took my Z completely apart I found that the harness had begun to rub the firewall. Check the rubber grommet and condition of the wires in places where the harness has to go through a hole. (Check radiator support holes for your light issues) Let's hope that the wires havent gotten so hot that the isulation is compromised inside your loom. (Wires fused inside loom) Such a thing might cause the wire to burn/get hot before the fuse blew.

Now for questions... Have you rewired/reattached any of the steering column wires?

Is your ignition sytem wired right? Has the car run prior to this fuse blowing incident?

2c

Jim

Thanks for your reply. I will grab a flash light and check out where the wires come through the firewall in a few minutes here per your suggestion.

To answer your questions:

All of the wires for the steering column are attached (I hope they are attached correctly too! ) I have not rewired any of them however.

All of the ignition system wiring is there but it is not being used. The car is swapped over to an L28ET with a MegaSquirt II system running it so I am not using any factory wires for the ignition system.

[CamH]

Alright, I checked out the grommet where the wires come through and it is intact and looks like it is in good shape.

Question, though, will the alternator still charge with that fuse removed? I'd like to know so I can still drive the car. I don't need my gauges - I have a laptop that tells me the important stuff, but I do need the alternator to charge.

[CamH]

Okay, I traced everything out and it leads to this wire (which I cut and no longer blow that particular fuse.):

I also just ordered an EZ2Wire kit today. I no longer care that this harness is junk.

My question, though, is this: Will the alternator still charge without that wire? I would like to know so that I can drive the car to and from work. If not, I can just run a wire straight from the output of the alternator to the positive side of the battery, correct?

[CamH]

By the way, that is the black wire with white stripe.

[beebeecivic]

that black wire is the ground i believe and the white wire is a 12v