Broken prong in fuse box

CANDACEJ

MEMBER
1995 FORD ESCORT
1.9L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
190,000 MILES

I was given this car LX model from my grandma. I have put some money into it but now there is some kind of electrical issue. Some fuses blew and we eventually found out that one of the relays did not look like it was in all the way. So once we looked closer we realized that whoever had the car before had the same relay go out but when they tried taking the bad one out they broke off one of the prongs in the fuse box but instead of getting it out before putting a new one in they just shoved a new one in there with the old prong still stuck in there. We have no idea how long it has been like this. We can tell it has been awhile because now the prong is corroded to the fuse box and just breaks into pieces when you try to pull it out. We also noticed the bolt that is supposed to be screwed in to the fuse box where the relay goes is missing and from what I understand it is supposed to be the ground for the fuse box and relay so it gets the proper connection, but I have no idea what kind it would need. So can anyone tell me how I can get the prong removed from the fuse box and if possible what kind and size bolt I would need please?

3 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,563 POSTS

Hello,

The bolt size is probably 6mm or 1/4 20. Can you take a picture of the damages so we can see? You can upload it here in your response. Please get back to us.

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Monday, February 4th, 2019 AT 12:37 PM

CANDACEJ

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I actually fixed that problem, but once I did and was able to start my car the temperature gauge was reading that it was overheating. But nothing was warm or hot to the touch my boyfriend even took of the radiator cap and stuck his finger in and felt to see if the coolant was hot and it wasn't. So we looked at the other relays and found that one of the ones to the cooling fan had a prong that had melted plastic by it and we kept smelling a burnt wire smell so we thought that was it so we changed that and started heading to my house even though changing that relay didn't make a difference on my temperature gauge reading hot. Well I got a few miles down the road and it did actually start overheating. We have no idea what it could be we are thinking maybe a wire burnt up that goes to my fan or that my fan went out it comes on for a second when you turn the key on but once you start the car it wont come on. But do you have any ideas as to what the problem might be?