My starter has been failing, and I've been hitting my starter with a wrench to help get my truck started in the morning. Just 20mins ago, I didn't have to hit my starter right away, but eventually I needed to, and when I go to hit it, I noticed on the neg terminal connection to the starter was on Fire. Like a candle size fire, so I blew it out. And now I'm not sure what to do. Could it happen again if I try to start it again, will it get worse. These are just some of my concerns. I have a new starter ordered, but it wont get here for another week. I'm also worried it will happen again with the new starter. Help, any suggestion on what to do. I'd prefer not to leave my truck were its at. I'm at a friend apartment, right now, and I'd prefer not to tow it, but i foresee it happening.

 

Probably a poor connection and a little oil. Are you talking about the cable that attaches to the starter - take nut off and clean contact points. Battery ground - take off and clean contact points. Cable leading from solenoid to starter - take off and clean contact points.

 

well, the ground cable, not the one connected from the pos to the starter, some other cable, possibly another ground, is completely melted and done fore, I wanna say the neg cable, now that i think about it. but doesn't matter new starter arrives in a week or sooner, so I'm just going to fix it then. currently the old starter is now a paperweight.

 

things also spark when geniuses don't tighten the nuts holding the cables in place enough after taking them off for testing, etc (yup, i sure learned THAT one the hard way)

 

New starter arives/arrived, dono yet.