Electrical problem - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Thayer03 · 09-08-2006, 11:05 PM

Why do my battery cables get so damn hot when I go to start my truck? Especially my ground cable, it acually starts to smolder and melt the terminal of my battery. It seems to be grounds fine but the cables get SO hot.

Any ideas?

Randy

Thanks!

67chevy2wd · 09-08-2006, 11:12 PM

What have you recently done to your truck?

Thayer03 · 09-08-2006, 11:14 PM

Brakes. lol. new battery a month or so ago. It does have a stereo in it since I have owned it but has never seemed to be a problem before.

richierlb · 09-08-2006, 11:44 PM

just some suggestions check and make sure the cables are in good shape ie no corrosion around the terminal running down the cable inside the insulation, maybe the starter pulling too many amps. hopefully something simplier.

67chevy2wd · 09-08-2006, 11:56 PM

I was gonna say some kind of a short in the starter.

Thayer03 · 09-09-2006, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67chevy2wd

I was gonna say some kind of a short in the starter.

OK I was waiting for someone to suggest that cause that is kinda what I was thinking also. I will be picking up a starter shortly and giving that a try. Don't want to sink too much money into this cause that will take away from my new build project

centsless · 09-09-2006, 10:53 AM

If it is the ground cable getting hot, it is not getting a good ground. loosen the cable and make sure it is clean of any dirt, paint, or corrosion. If that doesn't fix it, move the cable to a different spot on the engine. Remember that resistance = heat. Where there is heat, there is excessive resistance. Do you have a voltmeter? If so, do a voltage drop test. Put the leads on the negative terminal and on the engine. The reading should be close to 0 volts. If it is more than .1 volts, there is a bad connection. Also do the same thing and have someone crank the engine. The reading should still be close to 0 volts.If the starter were bad, just the positive cable would be getting hot. Since the ground cable is hot, check the terminal at the battery, or the cable itself is bad. Let me know if that helps !!
Bob

355 · 09-09-2006, 02:18 PM

I agree with Bob, also I went to a starter rebuild shop and had them make a set of cables ouy of #2 welding whip. It carries a lot more amperge, with the correct ends at the positive side of the battery. It helps with hot start. steve

Longhorn Man · 09-09-2006, 09:05 PM

actually a bad starter can heat up either cable, or even both cables.

timcos · 09-09-2006, 10:06 PM

What you have is a high resistance contact...making the cable a large resistor. All a resistor does is dissipate heat. Heat cause by current dropped over a piece of the circuit. Have to find the roadblock to voltaeg.

Find the corroded part..even if you think it is clean...double check it.

**kwmech** · 09-09-2006, 10:11 PM

So, in summary---bad starter; poor, corroded, loose connection, cable too small for the draw. Is the ground cable on the engine block

09-08-2006, 11:05 PM	#1
Thayer03 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 68	Electrical problem Why do my battery cables get so damn hot when I go to start my truck? Especially my ground cable, it acually starts to smolder and melt the terminal of my battery. It seems to be grounds fine but the cables get SO hot. Any ideas? Randy Thanks! __________________ 61 Chev 3/4 Ton 261 inline Lotsa work to be done!

09-08-2006, 11:14 PM	#3
Thayer03 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 68	Re: Electrical problem Brakes. lol. new battery a month or so ago. It does have a stereo in it since I have owned it but has never seemed to be a problem before. __________________ 61 Chev 3/4 Ton 261 inline Lotsa work to be done!

09-08-2006, 11:44 PM	#4
richierlb Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: lawton ok Posts: 25	Re: Electrical problem just some suggestions check and make sure the cables are in good shape ie no corrosion around the terminal running down the cable inside the insulation, maybe the starter pulling too many amps. hopefully something simplier.

09-08-2006, 11:56 PM	#5
67chevy2wd Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New Salem, ND Posts: 1,558	Re: Electrical problem I was gonna say some kind of a short in the starter. __________________ 07 Chevy classic LBZ Duramax (a few mods) '67 Chevy 1/2 ton 2wd (in pieces) '69 Chevy 1/2 ton 2wd (on hold) '71 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 ‘71 GMC 1/2 ton 2wd suburban

09-09-2006, 10:53 AM	#7
centsless sufficiently talented fool Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Forest Hill, MD Posts: 2,231	Re: Electrical problem If it is the ground cable getting hot, it is not getting a good ground. loosen the cable and make sure it is clean of any dirt, paint, or corrosion. If that doesn't fix it, move the cable to a different spot on the engine. Remember that resistance = heat. Where there is heat, there is excessive resistance. Do you have a voltmeter? If so, do a voltage drop test. Put the leads on the negative terminal and on the engine. The reading should be close to 0 volts. If it is more than .1 volts, there is a bad connection. Also do the same thing and have someone crank the engine. The reading should still be close to 0 volts.If the starter were bad, just the positive cable would be getting hot. Since the ground cable is hot, check the terminal at the battery, or the cable itself is bad. Let me know if that helps !! Bob __________________ "it's impossible to be surrounded by idiots when you are part of the circle" 2003 Suburban 2002 Pontiac Montana 1981 Corvette 1966 Impala Convertible Click here to support the board Last edited by centsless; 09-09-2006 at 10:56 AM. Reason: sp

09-08-2006, 11:12 PM	#2
67chevy2wd Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New Salem, ND Posts: 1,558	Re: Electrical problem What have you recently done to your truck? __________________ 07 Chevy classic LBZ Duramax (a few mods) '67 Chevy 1/2 ton 2wd (in pieces) '69 Chevy 1/2 ton 2wd (on hold) '71 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 ‘71 GMC 1/2 ton 2wd suburban

09-09-2006, 02:18 PM	#8
355 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 81	Re: Electrical problem I agree with Bob, also I went to a starter rebuild shop and had them make a set of cables ouy of #2 welding whip. It carries a lot more amperge, with the correct ends at the positive side of the battery. It helps with hot start. steve __________________ 1969 C10 Long Step,355,700r4w/lockup, HEI,Weiand,750 Performer,1.6 rockers,Camel Humps,Comp 262Extreme,Hedman,2 1/2"pipes, tele/tilt,SunRoof,ps,Disc pb,ac,Cragar,eaton,Corvette style roll pan, Bowtie louvered tail gate,lowered 2/2.

09-09-2006, 09:05 PM	#9
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Electrical problem actually a bad starter can heat up either cable, or even both cables.

09-09-2006, 10:06 PM	#10
timcos Chief Honcho In Charge Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bentonville AR Posts: 970	Re: Electrical problem What you have is a high resistance contact...making the cable a large resistor. All a resistor does is dissipate heat. Heat cause by current dropped over a piece of the circuit. Have to find the roadblock to voltaeg. Find the corroded part..even if you think it is clean...double check it. __________________ 1992 1500 4x4 Shortbed 1984 Ford F250 Supercab Longbed 6.9L Diesel 1972 K10 Cheyenne Super Fleetside Short Bed - 350 - A/C 1971 VW SuperBeetle 1960 Wife 1984 Son 1986 Son 1989 Son Previous Trucks 1967 C10 SWB (1980-1981) 1971 C10 LWB (1998-2004)

09-09-2006, 10:11 PM	#11
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,487	Re: Electrical problem So, in summary---bad starter; poor, corroded, loose connection, cable too small for the draw. Is the ground cable on the engine block



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