Found the "burning" smell source (pic)

[ZX-14]

do you guys think caused it? Looks like I have to replace the box??

[Cory W]

Welcome to a common issue.

Yes, replace the box. If you still have a fuse box cover, DON'T put it back on.

Once that has been done, it is advisable to just pull and replace the fuses once a year. (You use the same fuse you just pulled, if intact) The battery outgassing directly under the fuses and relays causes oxidation, bad connections, heat buildup, and in some cases, fire. Pulling and replacing the fuse cleans it off a little and can provide a cleaner, better connection again.

EDIT: Since you mentioned a burning smell, you may want to do this sooner rather than later! A very good how-to can be found here.

[ZX-14]

Alright thanks- definitely alot of work..... my box was smoking

[jawn101]

It's a tough job for sure. That was the first how-to I wrote so be sure you check out the comments after it as other members had valuable info in their replies. It's a very satisfying job though. Clean all your grounds while you're at it, especially the one up in the front left corner that supplies the fuel pump. It is time, money and effort VERY well spent!

[David T]

Many do not spend the time and money replacing the whole fuseblock. Instead they just take the wires for #7 and use an inline fuse holder. Not as pretty but it works. The problem is not the fuse. The fuel pump goes bad and overloads the circuit causing the fuse, fuseblock, and connectors to melt. Just fixing the fuse will not fix the problem, you probably need a new fuel pump.
David Teitelbaum

[ZX-14]

Been driving with a brand new pump for a few months now. It had a hot start issue until just recently, so I used to crank the hell out of it.

I noticed the electrical smell since the first time I really started driving the car. That was a few months ago.

[ZX-14]

It sounds crazy, but I seem to recall the smell mainly with the lights on. Even when my lights stopped working and i replaced the switch- I knew something was up when the smell was still there after switch replacement. My high beems don't work now either.

[jawn101]

It sounds crazy, but I seem to recall the smell mainly with the lights on. Even when my lights stopped working and i replaced the switch- I knew something was up when the smell was still there after switch replacement. My high beems don't work now either.

Not crazy at all. Fuses 7, 14 and 15 are obviously melted in your block. That's the fuel pump, low beams and high beams.

[ZX-14]

Do you guys think that cranking on it, cycling the fuel pump on and off to get it to start so many times could have contributed?

[jawn101]

Do you guys think that cranking on it, cycling the fuel pump on and off to get it to start so many times could have contributed?

I don't know if that would have impacted fuses 14 and 15. It could have contributed to the over-draw on fuse 7 though, but it's really hard (for me) to speculate.