Battery cables get very hot to touch

[The Wagprocrastinator]

I just purchased a new battery in hopes to try and get my 86 GW to start so that I could try and find out what is wrong with the engine. The motor turns over very sluggish and the battery cables get so hot you can't touch them? I thought it might be the starter silenoid so that I replaced it but nothing is any different. I hope that you guys can help me with this.

thanks

[joe]

What size are your battery cables? Stock or puny after market el cheapos? If they're smaller than stock replace them with good cables.

[The Wagprocrastinator]

They appear to be stock. But why would they be getting so hot if they aren't to small?

[seabell]

Try pulling all the plugs and see if the motor cranks better. If not, you may belooking at either a faulty starter motor or a tight engine.
Sorry, buts that's all I can think of at the moment. What happened with the motor when it last ran?

[The Wagprocrastinator]

They say that the motor is only running on 4 or 5 cylinders. They said that it needed a new motor and had it checked out. I found a used one for $450 and $400 to put it in and it comes with a six month warranty. Does this sound good. Not sure.

[seabell]

Did you crank the motor for long periods in the past while trying to get it started? If so, you may have melted some of the insulation on the motor windings which could cause slow cranking and high current draw.

[garcia]

Hey Buckeye --Your starter problem seems inherent with lots of these FSJ's, especialy when the engine is hot. My 89 GW has a very sluggish starter when hot, but smooth and fast on a cold start. I've taken the solenoid and starter completely apart and looked for wear, sloppy bushings, stator/rotor drag, fouled commutator, etc. Nothing seems to help, including replacing the battery. I've cleaned and tightened every ground connection I can find, even the strap between block and frame -- can't seem to fix it. I'm starting to think it needs some kind of heat shield between starter and any heat sources (like exhaust pipe)that would cause the starter to heat up. So far it hasn't left me high and dry, but there are times when it just barely starts. I've read quite a few similar comments on this site. I'm thinking if battery cables are adequate on a cold start, beefing them up won't change anything. So where is the relation between heat and slow turnover? Wish I knew...Mark

[Brown Bear]

Heat increases resistance, thus increasing amperage draw. Most of the time, this increased amperage draw is equal to or greater than the current that your battery can deliver.

[River Beast]

Change the starter... you got a heat soaked starter....

[Stolen76]

bad ground connection

[Rogue]

if both cables and the starter are all hot than they are being over worked - if just the cables are hot than you either have poor connections or bad cables (or if just one cable is getting hot than just one cable/connection is bad)

[ October 01, 2002, 06:23 PM: Message edited by: RogueStar ]

[Rande]

Definitly install larger cables. The stock cables were marginal for the work they do. I have installed 1/0 (one ought) cables in my 83 J20 and noticed an immediate change for the better in starting. The starter turns over faster than before and starting has been more reliable ever since.
I highly recommend large cables.

[The Wagprocrastinator]

Thanks for all of the places to look. You guys really help out alot. Thanks again!

[PAJEEPER]

Something doesnt sound right. Seem like your starter is laboring too hard. Your mechanic may be right about your engine. Mine did this but it was from the timing being 180 out It cranked real slow and got hot until I had the timing set right. I'd check the timing.

[kong]

Seabell,

I have the same problem as buckeyefan. I have 1 and 0 guage cables. I previously ran the starter without the plugs and seemed to turn ok. After the plugs went in. I burnt two starters up. Can you elaborate on the tight motor senario?

thanks,
kong