Fried My Battery Cables Today. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

HotRod929 · 09-01-2002, 11:21 PM

Well I got my new headers installed so my buddy and I decided to take my truck for a spin with open headers and see how many car alarms we could set off. Well it all started out good untill my truck tied and started to smoke terribly. We oipend the hood up and found both my battery cables fried and melting. What had happened was when we put the pos. cable back it was touching the header so it melted and then compleated a citcuit with the neg. and BAM a huge short circuit that melted the terminals off the battery. So the lession of the day is to check your cables and make sure they do not touch your headers. So I have to go get new cables tomarrow and put em on. I love the way it sounds with open headers. Oh and by the way we set off FIVE car alarms within like 3 blocks. It was great.

HotRod

ChevLoRay · 09-02-2002, 07:14 AM

I had a similar problem, but it was the battery wire from the alternator to the battery that was the problem. We had put a new intake on the engine, and the wiring harness was relocated slightly during the process.

After a few trips to/from work, the covering on the wire had gotten sufficiently thin and shorted out one September morning about two years ago. I had just started the engine, which then died. It knew it wasn't a normal shut down. Smoke started rolling out from under the hood. Not a good feeling. I opened the hood and saw a red glow all across the front of the radiator. It was the lighting harness. One wire was glowing really good. I grabbed it with my right hand and pulled it apart....I didn't have a wrench or gloves...the fire extinguisher didn't help. Oh, burned the crap out of my fingers, but it healed.

Believe it or not, but I have full coverage on my '69, and I made about $150 off of the deal, even after buying two new harnesses, paint and wire looms. Turns out the adjuster was sympathetic to old cars, and knew how to make it possible for me to do my own work and get paid for it. This was after my $50 dedeuctible. I guess I got paid for my pain and suffering fingers, huh?

Glad it wasn't worse....it could have been. So, check all of your wiring and be sure it isn't anywhere near the headers.

palallin · 09-02-2002, 09:46 AM

It could have been worse another way: see my "Exploding Battery" thread. . . .

mt Al · 09-02-2002, 10:34 AM

Similar thing happened to me, but it was a bad starter. When I was cranking it over I got to watch the lead melt into drops off of the cable clamp, sparks fly, etc.

No car alarm setoffs for me, but thanks for sharing the results of your test recon mission.

*racedvl* · 09-02-2002, 10:40 AM

I had the same thing happen to me, after changing my starter. But, I was in the middle of nowhere. Plus I also ended up putting a hole in my header where it melted the pos. cable, and made contact. This was at the end of winter. I'm still using this fix....LOL.

09-01-2002, 11:21 PM	#1
HotRod929 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Bondurant, IA but in Worcester, MA for school Posts: 767	Fried My Battery Cables Today. Well I got my new headers installed so my buddy and I decided to take my truck for a spin with open headers and see how many car alarms we could set off. Well it all started out good untill my truck tied and started to smoke terribly. We oipend the hood up and found both my battery cables fried and melting. What had happened was when we put the pos. cable back it was touching the header so it melted and then compleated a citcuit with the neg. and BAM a huge short circuit that melted the terminals off the battery. So the lession of the day is to check your cables and make sure they do not touch your headers. So I have to go get new cables tomarrow and put em on. I love the way it sounds with open headers. Oh and by the way we set off FIVE car alarms within like 3 blocks. It was great. HotRod __________________ 1970 Chevy C-20 350 V-8 Turbo 350 w/ shift kit Dana 60 w/ 4.10 gears AND Powr-Loc POSI New Additions: Summit Headers 135amp alternator Proform HEI Edelbrock 1406 600cfm carb Sunpro Tach Powr-Loc POSI Edelbrock Performer RPM Intake MSD 6A Ignition Box AIM: HotRod929 Visit My Site: http://1970chevy.netfirms.com/

09-02-2002, 07:14 AM	#2
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	I had a similar problem, but it was the battery wire from the alternator to the battery that was the problem. We had put a new intake on the engine, and the wiring harness was relocated slightly during the process. After a few trips to/from work, the covering on the wire had gotten sufficiently thin and shorted out one September morning about two years ago. I had just started the engine, which then died. It knew it wasn't a normal shut down. Smoke started rolling out from under the hood. Not a good feeling. I opened the hood and saw a red glow all across the front of the radiator. It was the lighting harness. One wire was glowing really good. I grabbed it with my right hand and pulled it apart....I didn't have a wrench or gloves...the fire extinguisher didn't help. Oh, burned the crap out of my fingers, but it healed. Believe it or not, but I have full coverage on my '69, and I made about $150 off of the deal, even after buying two new harnesses, paint and wire looms. Turns out the adjuster was sympathetic to old cars, and knew how to make it possible for me to do my own work and get paid for it. This was after my $50 dedeuctible. I guess I got paid for my pain and suffering fingers, huh? Glad it wasn't worse....it could have been. So, check all of your wiring and be sure it isn't anywhere near the headers. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

09-02-2002, 09:46 AM	#3
palallin Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: St. James, MO Posts: 1,238	It could have been worse another way: see my "Exploding Battery" thread. . . . __________________ '69 Longstep K-10: 327/SM465/T-221/Closed Knuckle Dana44/12-bolt.

09-02-2002, 10:34 AM	#4
mt Al Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bozeman, Montana Posts: 243	Similar thing happened to me, but it was a bad starter. When I was cranking it over I got to watch the lead melt into drops off of the cable clamp, sparks fly, etc. No car alarm setoffs for me, but thanks for sharing the results of your test recon mission. __________________ '72 GMC 1/2T 4x4 1500 Super Custom pickup (current) past rides were: '70 Chev 2wd farm truck '71 GMC 2wd 1/2T 402 nice! '72 Chev 2wd 1/2T 396 '72 GMC 3/4T 4x4 2500 Super Custom suburban. Bozeman, Montana

09-02-2002, 10:40 AM	#5
racedvl Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 7,020	I had the same thing happen to me, after changing my starter. But, I was in the middle of nowhere. Plus I also ended up putting a hole in my header where it melted the pos. cable, and made contact. This was at the end of winter. I'm still using this fix....LOL. Attached Images



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