92 240 wagon m47 5 speed wiring/fuse issue

[mysoonergirl]

1992 Volvo 240 wagon 3.1 LH no egr, non turbo, 5 speed m47 tran


Hi I am having an electrical issue that I cannot resolve and if you have experienced this issue I would love your input

Fuse #6 is burning up on one end (left side of contact)-smokes and smells awful, the left contact from the fuse box is also burned
Fuse #5 and metal contact is gunky on same side (left)

I may be having a related or unrelated issue to the fuel pump (car is intermittently and randomly after warming up is non responsive to acceleration via peddle or throttle. (some days I can drive all day or I can drive 10 minutes). I have replaced the fuel pump a couple of times but the fuse issue has never been resolved. I started keeping extra fuses as I was going through them so fast.

I have become disenchanted with mechanics after sooo many costly crappy repairs. I do not mind paying good money for repairs as they are needed, I am just tied of paying good money for crap.

However as this fuse issue eludes me I brought it to a local automotive electrician. They took a look at my fuse box and shrugged their shoulders...they claim they do not have the right schematics to determine what other components are on the same circuit...and some other non-sense. While the car is old she is in pretty decent condition- very minimal rust and usually runs great.

Electrical work is not for the unexperienced but there must be a way to trouble shoot this?!?

I am equipped with a multi meter and have been reading through forums and you tube videos but this is a new area for me and I do not have a solid back ground in electrical components to know what some may already understand and I would still like to know:

Can I test for a grounded or shorted wire with a multi-meter?
If so, how like what should I test Omhs or Volts DC? what should the reading be? and what's the difference be tween a grounded wire or shorted one?

How do I test for a grounded or shorted wire at the fuse panel itself? (I ask since this is where I am seeing some evidence of issues-burning)

Does testing at the fuse panel terminals give any indication to the health of the wires??
If so, what reading should I get or will each have a separate reading?

I appreciate your time, thanks