fusible link meltdown detection

[Mike Miller]

at under a buck a year to replace, why not just replace it annually? Or
every 5 yrs? Mine was fine at 8 yrs - I did replace it after a list warning.
Just educate the users!

mike


----- Original Message -----
From: Brett Dikeman <brett at cloud9.net>
To: <200q20v at audifans.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2002 10:33 PM
Subject: fusible link meltdown detection


> This topic just came up on the main list...I mentioned that it seems
> we get a regular trickle of listers here who have the fusible link
> crack from corrosion and then suffer a boilover, which isn't very
> good for the car, of course.
>
> I realized that a small relay could be installed parallel to the
> fuse, and if the fuse blew/cracked, the relay would be tripped and
> you could short something...like...say...the coolant expansion tank
> level sensor, which just so happens to be mere inches away(how handy!)
>
> If you were running with the climate control in an A/C-on mode, you'd
> get an instant warning...otherwise, you'd get a warning when the
> second the stage II fan tried to kick in.
>
> I'd be happy to try and come up with something clever from Digikey
> parts etc...does this sound like a plausible idea/worthwhile
> endeavor, with sound logic etc?
>
>    I'd estimate cost at well under $20, I would hope...we're talking
> about a relay, a resistor, a small case to enclose both, some RTV to
> protect it, etc...depending upon whether or not the connectors can be
> obtained, it could even be a zero-wire-cut mod(but unless you went
> junkyard-diving, it would probably inflate the cost a fair bit, so it
> might be easiest to use splices or something.)
>
> The absolute key is that you'd have to take a low-coolant warning
> from the auto-check system seriously...
>
> Brett
> --
> ----
> "They that give up essential liberty to obtain temporary
> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin
> http://www.users.cloud9.net/~brett/
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