I think I am being taken for!

[gt_2001]

I am on vacation and needed a tow. Truck lost power and stalled. I checked the fuses and the fuel pump 30 amp fuse was blown. I got AAA to take me to their shop. I figured it was the fuel pump went bad. I left to get something to eat and got a call that wires were burned up and they needed to tear into the panels in the back of the truck. I asked for them to wait until I got there before they do anything else. The fuel pump wire had a crack and was corroded and must have shorted out against the bare shielding wire and blew the fuse. I think the shop jumped the fuel pump fuse posts while trying to troubleshoot and melted some wires in the interior right rear of the truck. When the truck stalled I didn't smell any burning of any sort. Will a short in a wire melt wires before the fuse will blow? Is jumping the fuse post a common troubleshooting technique? I don't want to be taken for $800-900 if it was their fault!(The melted wires which is the biggest concern now) Any help would be appreciated!

 

[gt_2001]

Can anyone give input? Is 30amps enough to melt 16g wire?

 

[spencer785]

yes 30A is enough to melt 16g wire, I looked online and it seems 10A can melt 16g wire.

 

[jlsparky7]

U nailed it GT

 

[gt_2001]

yes 30A is enough to melt 16g wire, I looked online and it seems 10A can melt 16g wire.

A 30a fuse will not blow but wires will melt when a a hot wire is short out? I've never seen this happen before. Fuse will always go first!
Would like more opinions before I have to pay!

 

[spencer785]

why don't you call a different ford or shop and ask your question.

 

[waskly]

a harness is made to said amperage of the owners manual fuse info.

how they save weight is make the wires to said amperage. if you have a 30amp fuse factory the wires will handle a 30 amp load.

if the wires burned up and i have seen plenty of melted harnesses, the wrong fuse was used.... or someone shoved a paper clip in and looked for smoke.

which sucks cuz that harness is through out the whole truck, from behind the dash, to 4 doors and carpet. i changed one in my life and i had to gut the vehicle... i did get 16 hrs to do this tho. and it took me 2 days to do swap it out.