Fuel gauge fuse sparks when inserted and bogs the engine down(dies). Fuse box has been cleaned. This fuse seems to operate all gauges. All gauges have been disconnected and the fuse still sparks and kills the motor (doesn't blow!) The fuse wire also goes to the voltage regulator after the gauges. The alt. has been bench tested as great. Where's my drain? All grounds have been cleaned. (76 280). Thanks!undefinedundefined

Sounds very much like an crossed exposed wire. Sounds like a long day of tracking down wires, did you happent o do anything recently that made it start up or was it just start out of nowhere? Also crazy question but is the ignition fully off?

It only sparks with the ignition in on or start position. The car had obvious electrical problems when purchased two months ago.

If it sparks and doesnt blow it sounds like its acting as a switch. If it sparks while the fuse is all the way inserted it would mean a loose connection at the fuse clip. Ive had that by people cramming wires into the clip to get power for phones/radio/cb etc. They streach. I have had alt. test good but fail on the car due to bounce and such. Try disconnecting individual units. Also do you think someone had a radio or such wired to that?

The PO said the guy he bought it from yanked the radio out. After that the PO did some serious rewiring. I've changed the vr twice (both were used). When I put the fuse in the alternator really chugs.

This circuit controls the:

gauges:disconnected

the electric cooling fan:don't have

hazard switch: disconnected

top gear switch: disconnected

voltage regulator: disconnected to test

and a fenderwell mounted capacitor that was missing when I bought the car. (I wonder what that capacitor does)

Have you pulled the fuse box and checked the back of it? Also track down the wiring that went to that capacitor. But it sound like he might have a line wire for an amp that might be laying around hot or maybe for some other device cb or such.