batt cable question
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New User
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Tucson
batt cable question
When I go to start my truck, the pos cable from the batt to the starter solenoid gets really hot. Why is that? It is a 1982 F-150 302 duraspark 2. Any help would be great. I need this truck running by the end of the weekend.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2010
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Battery Cable Gets Hot
I would start with checking the basics. Make sure all the connections are clean and tight, and there are no frayed wires. My old '84 was bad about the positive cable connection loosening up on the starter relay. Next, most auto parts stores can test your starter. You might try these steps first. They're a little work but are free. I'm sure there are more qualified people on this board who can add to this, but I hope this helps.
Rick
Rick
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22,415
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
In general, any wiring will heat up when "too much" current is flowing through it.
However, this can also happen when formerly-good cables deteriorate and corrosion builds
up - either inside the cable or on the connecting ends - and electricity flow becomes
restricted, which means "too much" current is now flowing through what has become
"too small" of a conductor.
Add to this, it can happen when the solenoid electrically wears out internally... the solenoid
is merely an electromagnet that moves a copper disk up & down, that disk (dis)connects
the electrical flow from the thick cables on both sides. Arcing occurs when those
connections are made and broken, that arcing destroys the electrical contacts over time and
eventually results in "too much" current flowing through what becomes "too small" of a
conductor.
Furthermore, this can happen if your starter motor is drawing more current than it should,
either because it's wearing/burning out internally and/or its and/or the battery's ground
connections have badly deteriorated.
In sum, I agree with what has already been stated above - clean, verify and possibly
replace as necessary all of the obvious electrical items, most of these kinds of problems
come from bad cables and/or bad, corroded connections.
However, this can also happen when formerly-good cables deteriorate and corrosion builds
up - either inside the cable or on the connecting ends - and electricity flow becomes
restricted, which means "too much" current is now flowing through what has become
"too small" of a conductor.
Add to this, it can happen when the solenoid electrically wears out internally... the solenoid
is merely an electromagnet that moves a copper disk up & down, that disk (dis)connects
the electrical flow from the thick cables on both sides. Arcing occurs when those
connections are made and broken, that arcing destroys the electrical contacts over time and
eventually results in "too much" current flowing through what becomes "too small" of a
conductor.
Furthermore, this can happen if your starter motor is drawing more current than it should,
either because it's wearing/burning out internally and/or its and/or the battery's ground
connections have badly deteriorated.
In sum, I agree with what has already been stated above - clean, verify and possibly
replace as necessary all of the obvious electrical items, most of these kinds of problems
come from bad cables and/or bad, corroded connections.
