Problem with main fuse by battery.....keeps blowing and overheating

[oldsdroptop]

I have a 2000 NB GL model with an AEG 2.0 engine. The problem I am having is with the main fusible link assembly right next to the battery. The main wire (looks to be about a #4 AWG wire) and it has been heating up before I got the car melting the housing and the stud where it attaches to the plastic housing and also the large black wire is meltd about 2 inches down the wire from the crimped eyelet. I can tell there have been problems with this fusible link way before I got the car. The other day the wife went to use the car and it wouldn't start. I checked that box 1st off and found that fusible link blown. I am wondering if anyone can show me a schematic and tell me exactly what this wire is for and maybe answer why it would blowing. A schematic of this assembly and a descrption of what exactly these wires go to whould be a great help to me to try and figure out what is causing this problem and how I can fix it. any help with this would be greatly appreciated guys. Oldsdroptop

[JSSEC]

Wire harness that goes from alternator passes in a plastic holder under the battery box just above the starter was bad had to replace it. The fuse strip that blew on me was the one closes to the motor when fuse box above battery was open.

[oldsdroptop]

I thinking I have a problem with my alternator overcharging my fairly new battery. It shows 14.20 when the car is running with a Fluke Meter. I think this should be closer to 13.5 to 13.8 I haven't seen 1 quite that high before. The fuse gets hot very quickly and blows pretty quickly after startup. Its a 30 amp fuse and I have tried by passing the wire to see if its shorted between it and the alternator. All I can tell is the wire and the plastic in the housing have been hot way before I ever got the car. I'm going to pull the alternator and have it tested at Autozone. Unless someone else has a better idea. I'm stumped it smokes a 30 amp fuse in a heartbeat. Let me know if you guys can send me down another another path here. The rest of the fusebox seems to be fine. No other heat issues in any other cicuit just with the main wire to the alternaot. thanx guys. OldsDropTop.....