Battery Melt Down

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Battery Melt Down #452151 05/19/04 01:19 AM

Joined: Jun 2002

Posts: 35

Ashburn, VA

Gary O

Getting the Wheeling Fever

Gah! On my 97 Rodeo (Passport), the battery failed about 1.5 months ago. I replaced both the alternator and the battery. Tonight I had smoke coming from my hood; I opened it up and saw both my +/- leads smoking at the battery. Closer inspection revealed that wire coverings melted down about 7 inches away from the battery, and the battery covering/plastic is melted around the terminals as well.

What could this be? Alternator overcharging the battery? Faulty battery?

Re: Battery Melt Down [Re: Gary O] #452152 05/19/04 02:05 AM

Joined: Jun 2002

Posts: 35

Ashburn, VA

Gary O

Getting the Wheeling Fever

Hmmm. After tracing the 4 (or 8?) gauge wire, I found that it tracked all the way to just above the starter. It melted it's covering all the way there, at which point I lost track of it. Does anyone know if this wire connects directy to the starter?

I've replaced the starter on this thing already .. I have a feeling that this repair is going to suck, really suck, since the starter was so hard to get out in the first place.

Re: Battery Melt Down [Re: Gary O] #452153 05/19/04 06:31 PM

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 281

RT1

Mudrunner

Reads like a dead short. The cable to the starter isn't fused so if it rubs up against something and wears away the insulation on the wire you will have completed a circuit that will not break and your battery will smoke itself trying to supply it. Could be an internal fault in the starter too. On the positive side your alternator is probably OK.

Anyone who doesn't believe in the power of batteries to start fires try dropping a watch battery in your pocket full of change. Damn that hurt...

'89 P'up, 2.6 I-Tec, 488,000 miles and done... gone to the great beyond

Re: Battery Melt Down [Re: RT1] #452154 05/19/04 10:55 PM

Joined: Jun 2002

Posts: 35

Ashburn, VA

Gary O

Getting the Wheeling Fever

Thanks for the reply. I good news is that I replaced the starter recently so hopefully those bolts haven't re-rusted into place. The bad news, I guess, is that I have to take the starter out again to get to the terminal end of the wire!

I'll probably take the starter back to see if I can get a replacement, rather than take a chance. Will know more tonight when I tear it down. I don't think it was my re-install given that I was very careful. I'm leaning towards the issue benig a short in the starter..

Thx again.

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