My 87 GT (stock 2.8) decided not to start, I had power and fuel, but would not turn over. After a few attempts I could smell smoke, and this is what I found:



No idea if this is the problem or just a symptom - can I just replace the wire?
What else should I be looking for?

Any help is appreciated - thank you!

[This message has been edited by trivet (edited 04-20-2021).]

That wire doesnt look like it melted, more teared off. I think that wire is for the ecm, but I could be wrong. One thing I would check, is if your tachometer moves while cranking. if not, its probably the icm that failed which i experience like a week ago

Looks like a fusible link cooked off but pictures are poorly taken so can't tell.

Could be the problem or likely just a symptom of shorting something else.
Several circuits have no fuse in the fuse box or anywhere but a fusible link.

See my Cave, Fuse Links notes and Wire Service

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

That wire is the one from the pos battery terminal to the junction box? I don't beleive that one has a fusible link but a of the ones coming out of the junction box do so one of those links should have been the one to short. Did someone replace a blown fusible link with a wire or something? That's the only reason I could think this would happen