Question I have an 84' Chevy 2wd, 3/4 ton, with a 7.4 liter engine. I am mechanically challenged. I just bought this truck, it originally would not start. I replaced the plugs, then the starter, then the fuel filter. After doing the filter I noticed smoke coming from the engine, where the starter was. I took the starter out noticed melted wires from the muffler arching the starter terminals. I had the starter tested, repaired the melted wires, and reinstalled the starter. I HAVE NOTHING WHEN I TURN THE KEY! NOTHING! I looked at the fuse box under the dash and do not see one for starter. Is there another fuse box? Is it possibly a solenoid, or something of that nature? Please help! I might get towed soon.
AnswerHi Kid,
There is a fusible link that takes power from the battery, generally from the battery post on the starter, and takes it to the firewall power tap. It looks like a black plastic diamond near the brake master cylinder, just under the edge of the hood.
Check there and see if you have battery power.
The fusible link just looks like a piece of fat wire spliced to another wire, with a large rubber covered splice.
If you had a short, it should have blown.
Sometimes they will blow, yet still look good if it doesn't melt clear through the wire coating.
But check at that diamond shaped power tap. All the power for the ignition switch, and about everything else, comes through there.
Van
