Battery Problem??

[ZZ-2000]

Why does the ground wire (batt to fender) keep burning up?...Ill try to start my wag...it will turn over slow..no start..puffs of white smoke from under the hood....melted ground wire again :mad: ...It seems like it does this every 4 to 6 months....What gives??

[garcia]

First thought; try grounding directly to the engine block, like right under an alternator or power steering pump bolt. I don't think factory set-up grounds to the fender or wheel well. Mark

[PhilSine]

The whole wire burns up? Try a bigger gauge wire.

[kyjman]

Sounds to me like rust is getting to the ground wire over a period of time and causing it to short when all the start juice is applied. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think you are talking about the small wire from the negetive post to the fender, and not the large wire that goes to the block. If that is the case then try and get a good rust free ground this time.

[ZZ-2000]

Yes it's the small wire. My large wire is going to the AC bracket. I guess I need to move it to the block.
Thanks Guy's

[Bob Barry]

Make sure your ground-strap from the block to the frame near the motor-mount is intact, and that the grounds are clean.

[SpruceMoose]

there should also be a heavy ground strap at one of the motor mounts. i just rewired mine: 2 ga gnd from battery to a/c top bracket, used the old gnd cable from there back to the fender. 2ga hot lead from battery to starter, used the old hot wire from there to the fender-mounted relay to power the rest of the car.

sm.

[gsmikie]

i ran a batt cable from the master cylender to the block it cured all my ground problems

[Lindel]

The ground from the neg side of the battery, to the fenderwell, is the ONLY ground from the body of the vehicle, to the battery. It's one of the more important grounds on the truck, especially if you have any high amperage devices (stereo, amps, etc.) in the vehicle depending on a body ground that may not be up to the task.

Increase the size of the wire between the battery and the fenderwell (6 gauge, at a bare minimum), clean the connections at the battery, and the fenderwell to nice shiny metal, and use bolt, lock washers (star washers are best, since they actually bite into the metal), and flat washers, and then coat the bare metal that's exposed with battery grease, or paint it to keep it from corroding again. This should clear any ground issues, and the electrical stuff that depends on a body ground (all of the interior items) will operate a lot better, and will be a lot more reliable.

[ August 29, 2002, 05:09 AM: Message edited by: Lindel ]

[Red Green]

Had the exact same problem, switched to a heavier wire >> end of problem. The battery is grounded to the fender for a reason - you must leave it there despite what your well meaning friends are saying.

[MONOLITHIC]

Battery ground to frame , motor, and body with at least 6 guage or battery junper cable size wire.Now make sure to SOLDER THE TERMINALS TO THE WIRE ENDS THAT BOLT ON. let me repeat that...SOLDER THE TERMINALS TO THE WIRE ENDS THAT BOLT ON. Crimp the fitting with every thing you have for sure ..but Just crimed on and put on is not worth the time it takes. Ok for a quick fix to get you going....but one more time ....and everybody this time ...with feeling... SOLDER THE TERMINALS TO THE WIRE ENDS THAT BOLT ON.. Use grease on the wire ends that attach to the battery lug, ..positive too. All contact points clean and put a dab of greese there too. This will fix the grounding problem for a long ..long time. ..Now if your still burning wires... then thats one hail of a starter you have ! If a starter is dragging or worn out I've seen them melt the jacket off of wire..Just before the heavely smoking starter burst into flames. redface.gif

[ August 29, 2002, 09:06 PM: Message edited by: MONOLITHIC ]