09-08-2006, 11:05 PM | #1 |
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Location: Calgary, Alberta
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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!
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61 Chev 3/4 Ton 261 inline Lotsa work to be done! |
09-08-2006, 11:12 PM | #2 |
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Location: New Salem, ND
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Re: Electrical problem
What have you recently done to your truck?
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09-08-2006, 11:14 PM | #3 |
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Location: Calgary, Alberta
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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.
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61 Chev 3/4 Ton 261 inline Lotsa work to be done! |
09-08-2006, 11:44 PM | #4 |
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Location: lawton ok
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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.
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09-08-2006, 11:56 PM | #5 |
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Re: Electrical problem
I was gonna say some kind of a short in the starter.
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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, 12:20 AM | #6 |
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Location: Calgary, Alberta
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Re: Electrical problem
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
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61 Chev 3/4 Ton 261 inline Lotsa work to be done! |
09-09-2006, 10:53 AM | #7 |
sufficiently talented fool
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Forest Hill, MD
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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
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09-09-2006, 02:18 PM | #8 |
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Location: South Mississippi
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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
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09-09-2006, 09:05 PM | #9 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
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Re: Electrical problem
actually a bad starter can heat up either cable, or even both cables.
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09-09-2006, 10:06 PM | #10 |
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Bentonville AR
Posts: 970
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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.
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09-09-2006, 10:11 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Colfax-California
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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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