odd electrical problem

yikes · 01-10-2009, 01:19 PM

condition:
battery in frunk, 150 amp fuse, 4 ga. wire, connected to new positive cable and fusible link in engine compartment.
symptoms: solenoid had been sticking a little for a couple of weeks (taking too long to disengage). Leaving for work, the starter would not disengage, even with the key off the starter kept running. Popped the negative off the battery and put it back on, tried the starter and all was well. Came home from work, turned car off, came out later and car was rammed into the work bench. I had left in first gear, starter must have come back on and caused it to lurch forward 5 feet. No electrics worked. Charged the battery. Same thing. Checked starter wire and fusible link, okay. Finally checked 150 amp fuse,,,blown. Replaced fuse. Noticed that where I connected the cables together there Might have been a short to ground. Not sure about that. Replaced starter. Started car. After running for five minutes, heard a clicking,,popping sound. Could have been a gear in tranny or clutch (it's cold, car has been sitting for 2 weeks),,,,or it could have been an electrical arc. Waited ten minutes, started car again. No noises now. Scratching my head now. After I warm up a little, I'll go look at the new starter to see if I can find evidence of an arc.

yikes · 01-11-2009, 04:53 PM

Yep, the main starter wire had a small area of exposed wire which was shorting to the starter housing. Pulled it loose, wrapped with tape. Back in and working. Cold weather calls for quick fixes.

01-10-2009, 01:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
yikes Cage Fighter Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gnaw Bone, Indiana Posts: 230 Thanks: 2 Thanked 12 Times in 4 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	odd electrical problem condition: battery in frunk, 150 amp fuse, 4 ga. wire, connected to new positive cable and fusible link in engine compartment. symptoms: solenoid had been sticking a little for a couple of weeks (taking too long to disengage). Leaving for work, the starter would not disengage, even with the key off the starter kept running. Popped the negative off the battery and put it back on, tried the starter and all was well. Came home from work, turned car off, came out later and car was rammed into the work bench. I had left in first gear, starter must have come back on and caused it to lurch forward 5 feet. No electrics worked. Charged the battery. Same thing. Checked starter wire and fusible link, okay. Finally checked 150 amp fuse,,,blown. Replaced fuse. Noticed that where I connected the cables together there Might have been a short to ground. Not sure about that. Replaced starter. Started car. After running for five minutes, heard a clicking,,popping sound. Could have been a gear in tranny or clutch (it's cold, car has been sitting for 2 weeks),,,,or it could have been an electrical arc. Waited ten minutes, started car again. No noises now. Scratching my head now. After I warm up a little, I'll go look at the new starter to see if I can find evidence of an arc.

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01-11-2009, 04:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
yikes Cage Fighter Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gnaw Bone, Indiana Posts: 230 Thanks: 2 Thanked 12 Times in 4 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Yep, the main starter wire had a small area of exposed wire which was shorting to the starter housing. Pulled it loose, wrapped with tape. Back in and working. Cold weather calls for quick fixes.