FilthyEvo
Well-known member
Was out driving around last night in the snow storm, when suddenly the car completely died. No power at all.
I assumed it had something to do with the battery, so I popped open the trunk (poorly relocated battery from PO), and smoke started billowing out. Terrible smell of melted plastic.
Once the smoke cleared, it was obvious that the battery cables were completely melted - the rubber shielding was actually dripping from the copper wire. On site, I traced the wire up through the interior of the car and it was melted all the way up to the firewall.
Both the ground wire - which was grounded near the rear speakers - and the positive cable, were completely melted.
Little background info on the car; I picked up this car from a kid who only owned it for a few months. He purchased it from another kid who didn't know anything about cars and recieved the car in a trade. The owner before that was the person who did all the work - I've been in touch with him, have seen his build threads and his work was clean. He kept the car in great shape.
So, somewhere along the line of the past two owners, the car was HACKED. A wiring nightmare. Half ass wire tuck, that was attempted to be reversed. So, I've been trying to fix all the gremlins before modding.
Back to the melted wires. Upon searching, it had to of been a short to ground somewhere. Since I was driving in deep snow (8-12" of heavy snow), could snow have built up and pushed some wiring running to the alternator - since it sits so low in the engine bay?
I've also read that the starter solenoid could be stuck, causing the circuit to be open and drawing excessive current?
Would a loose ground, or a wire grounding out anywhere on the chassis cause this? Or would it HAVE to be related to the starter/alternator?
Thanks for the help guys. Going to pick up the car today, and will get started on it tomorrow.
I assumed it had something to do with the battery, so I popped open the trunk (poorly relocated battery from PO), and smoke started billowing out. Terrible smell of melted plastic.
Once the smoke cleared, it was obvious that the battery cables were completely melted - the rubber shielding was actually dripping from the copper wire. On site, I traced the wire up through the interior of the car and it was melted all the way up to the firewall.
Both the ground wire - which was grounded near the rear speakers - and the positive cable, were completely melted.
Little background info on the car; I picked up this car from a kid who only owned it for a few months. He purchased it from another kid who didn't know anything about cars and recieved the car in a trade. The owner before that was the person who did all the work - I've been in touch with him, have seen his build threads and his work was clean. He kept the car in great shape.
So, somewhere along the line of the past two owners, the car was HACKED. A wiring nightmare. Half ass wire tuck, that was attempted to be reversed. So, I've been trying to fix all the gremlins before modding.
Back to the melted wires. Upon searching, it had to of been a short to ground somewhere. Since I was driving in deep snow (8-12" of heavy snow), could snow have built up and pushed some wiring running to the alternator - since it sits so low in the engine bay?
I've also read that the starter solenoid could be stuck, causing the circuit to be open and drawing excessive current?
Would a loose ground, or a wire grounding out anywhere on the chassis cause this? Or would it HAVE to be related to the starter/alternator?
Thanks for the help guys. Going to pick up the car today, and will get started on it tomorrow.
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