Ground on the block
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 170
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From: Mesa
Ground on the block
I have a hard starting problem once the truck is hot, or if you need to try to start it more than 3 times in a row. I've been trying to track down this problem, it is not the battery it's new. I noticed that the negatice battery cable is diferent than anything I have seen. I have always seen the battery grounded to the block, real close to the battery. On my truck the negative cable goes all the way down to the starter. It is hooked onto the bell housing where on of the starter bolts goes on. The cable is 5-6 ft long. Could this be part of my problem? it seems like a long cable to me.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,728
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From: Keweenaw Bay, MI
Ground on the block
My 88 4.9 was the same way. It did not charge good, it cranked slower than normal and the radio lost it's memory every time I started it up. Well, I bought an 18" #2 cable and hooked it up to the alternator bracket and disabled that 7' cable to the bellhousing. It now charges better, cranks over like it is supposed to and the radio keeps it's memory. I went a little farther than that though, the positive cables to the solenoid and to the starter I increased in size also. The factory cables are much too small for a long run like that, too much resistance under load! I have not had any problems since then.
