Wiring damage due to junk aftermarket fuses.

[Skinnywater]

This came down from our GM service department and was subsequently shared throughout the rest of the car lines at the dealership I work for.

It was an e-mail to give service departments a heads-up on actual problems outside of the auto manufactures network.

Several different manufactures vehicles have arrived at dealers with various wire harnesses toasted, some have caught fire. The cause was very simple and clear. In all the cases it involved a 15 amp mini blade type automotive fuse.

"The fuse has a clear , hard plastic blue body with the amperage (15) stamped into the top. There is no white paint to highlight the number.
There is no identifying marks on the fuse to identify the fuse manufacture.

However, the fuse is distributed by Harbor Freight in their "Storehouse 120 pc. automotive fuse set, mini blade type" kit.

These 15 amp fuses have been tested and have been found to exceed 50 amps current. In one kit 6 out of 15 fuses failed to "pop" after being directly shorted across a battery, instead they melted intact."

No mention is made about the integrity of the other fuses in the kit.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Wiring damage due to junk aftermarket fuses.

Thanks for the info Skinny. I've seen those fuses at Harbor Freight and almost bought one to put in my service van for extras. Glad I didn't. Think I will stick to the name brand of Buss. I'm wondering if those were made in China?

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

Re: Wiring damage due to junk aftermarket fuses.

Bet on it and you'll be a winner.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Wiring damage due to junk aftermarket fuses.

Of COURSE they are made in China...
Thanks for the heads up...
I just checked some of mine, and all had white on the 15, and looking in at it, seem proper size wire

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Wiring damage due to junk aftermarket fuses.

Think I will stick to the name brand of Buss. I'm wondering if those were made in China?

They are probably made in China too!

 

[rheagler]

Re: Wiring damage due to junk aftermarket fuses.

I think the Chinese are trying to kill us. If they can't get us with lead paint, they will burn us in our cars with electrical fires.

 

[CN Spots]

Re: Wiring damage due to junk aftermarket fuses.

Nah, if they killed us, there wouldn't be anybody to buy their krap.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Wiring damage due to junk aftermarket fuses.

Nah, if they killed us, there wouldn't be anybody to buy their krap.

Its kind of a weird "Mutual Assured Destruction" that way.

 

[rwise]

Re: Wiring damage due to junk aftermarket fuses.

Ban ALL there products!

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Wiring damage due to junk aftermarket fuses.

I checked my Buss kit of fuses. On the package it specifies that the puller is made in China but the fuses are made in St Louis Mo. How bout that.......

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Wiring damage due to junk aftermarket fuses.

Apparently, this story is making its rounds on the internet. The only thing different is at what different car dealership it is happening at.

I am sure snopes will have a report on it soon.

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: Wiring damage due to junk aftermarket fuses.

Apparently, this story is making its rounds on the internet. The only thing different is at what different car dealership it is happening at.

I am sure snopes will have a report on it soon.

Our dealership didn't have an issue.
It came through our GM division in the form of an intra dealership email alert to our Service Manager.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Wiring damage due to junk aftermarket fuses.

The exact wording is coming through on many message boards.

 

[mscher]

Re: Wiring damage due to junk aftermarket fuses.

It's easy to blame it all on the Chinese, but is there any fault on the American corporations that buy this junk?

Did Harbor Freight have any requirements, specifications, standards etc, for these fuses?

Or did they simply say, we want some metal-looking thingies, with plastic tops, that look like this (show a sample fuse) and we will only pay 3 cents each for them?

Same with all Chinses stuff that used to be American made. Sure they save on labor, but they always seem to cheapen the materials and cut corners on mfg.

 

[CN Spots]

Re: Wiring damage due to junk aftermarket fuses.

I can promise you that Mattel didn't REQUEST Polly Pocket dolls to be painted using lead paint... It was a case of poor quality control by Mattel, and China's lack of, well, everything regarding safety.

Most likely the same deal with the fuses. Somebody wasn't lookin, Nobody knew any better and Everybody suffered.