Something shorted out when I went to start my truck..... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

BowTieMan · 11-15-2010, 11:21 PM

....and now I need some help to figure this out. I went to start it and it sounded like the battery was low and it wasn't wanting to fully crank over. Then I noticed some smoke under the hood and when I poped it I saw that a small 14 gauge or so wire that ran from the negative battery post to the core support had burnt up. From that same spot on the core support is another small wire that connects to the frame and it didn't burn at all. My negative cable is attached to the alternator bracket with a normal large cable (6 gauge or so) and there is another larger (again I think 6 gauge) wire that goes from the block to the frame in another spot. My question is why do I need these extra smaller wires that go to the body? And more important why did just that one burn? I am assuming there is a short in the starter but never ran into this so I could use some help or advice to trouble shoot this.

BTW its on an 85 C/10 with a 350 if that matters at all.

**old Rusty C10** · 11-15-2010, 11:22 PM

clean up all your grounds one is not making good contact..

rjn72 · 11-15-2010, 11:25 PM

Sounds like the starter is hung up. The smaller wires are body grounds and yes you do need them. They make the lights and such work. If the starter is hung up, to much power goes through the wire with no were to go and the wire gets hot. Small wire = weak link. Replace the wire, check the starter. Try again.

BowTieMan · 11-15-2010, 11:40 PM

Ya that's what I figured, the problem is in the starter and its just going to the weakest link. We put a jumper wire off the battery to a ground and it was fine with the key in the on position but once I went to start it the wire started to coil up right away. I am working from dark morning till dark night all week lol so Its gonna wait till the weekend to get looked at.

swb85 · 11-16-2010, 11:18 AM

You've probably got a bad battery ground cable. There's a bunch of resistance in it for whatever reason, electricity follows the path of least resistance (which was that little wire to the core support), it couldn't handle the current and burned up. Same thing happened to mine a couple winters ago, put a new ground cable from the battery to the motor and been fine since.

11-15-2010, 11:21 PM	#1
BowTieMan Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Glendale Arizona Posts: 747	Something shorted out when I went to start my truck..... ....and now I need some help to figure this out. I went to start it and it sounded like the battery was low and it wasn't wanting to fully crank over. Then I noticed some smoke under the hood and when I poped it I saw that a small 14 gauge or so wire that ran from the negative battery post to the core support had burnt up. From that same spot on the core support is another small wire that connects to the frame and it didn't burn at all. My negative cable is attached to the alternator bracket with a normal large cable (6 gauge or so) and there is another larger (again I think 6 gauge) wire that goes from the block to the frame in another spot. My question is why do I need these extra smaller wires that go to the body? And more important why did just that one burn? I am assuming there is a short in the starter but never ran into this so I could use some help or advice to trouble shoot this. BTW its on an 85 C/10 with a 350 if that matters at all. __________________ "A true hotrodder wouldn't be content untill he had created a car so violent, so hairy, so totally sick that the very act of dropping the hammer would result in instant death. Anything less results in the need to go faster." - Tony DeFeo Last edited by BowTieMan; 11-15-2010 at 11:22 PM.

11-15-2010, 11:22 PM	#2
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,310	Re: Something shorted out when I went to start my truck..... clean up all your grounds one is not making good contact.. __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

11-15-2010, 11:25 PM	#3
rjn72 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: el paso, ar Posts: 139	Re: Something shorted out when I went to start my truck..... Sounds like the starter is hung up. The smaller wires are body grounds and yes you do need them. They make the lights and such work. If the starter is hung up, to much power goes through the wire with no were to go and the wire gets hot. Small wire = weak link. Replace the wire, check the starter. Try again. __________________ JESUS IS LORD 87 crew cab V30 454/400

11-15-2010, 11:40 PM	#4
BowTieMan Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Glendale Arizona Posts: 747	Re: Something shorted out when I went to start my truck..... Ya that's what I figured, the problem is in the starter and its just going to the weakest link. We put a jumper wire off the battery to a ground and it was fine with the key in the on position but once I went to start it the wire started to coil up right away. I am working from dark morning till dark night all week lol so Its gonna wait till the weekend to get looked at. __________________ "A true hotrodder wouldn't be content untill he had created a car so violent, so hairy, so totally sick that the very act of dropping the hammer would result in instant death. Anything less results in the need to go faster." - Tony DeFeo

11-16-2010, 11:18 AM	#5
swb85 On a budget like Fred Sanford Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 2,031	Re: Something shorted out when I went to start my truck..... You've probably got a bad battery ground cable. There's a bunch of resistance in it for whatever reason, electricity follows the path of least resistance (which was that little wire to the core support), it couldn't handle the current and burned up. Same thing happened to mine a couple winters ago, put a new ground cable from the battery to the motor and been fine since. __________________ '85 Silverado swb: 383 stroker, 10.5:1, vortec heads, 232/238 roller cam, RPM air gap, performer 750 carb, stainless longtubes, 3" duals/super 44's, T56/4.11 383ci build / exterior refresh thread '98 Camaro z28: 370ci twin turbo 370ci build '01 Tahoe LT 4x4: 5.3, longtubes/ory, magnaflow duals, custom tune....wife's DD

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