so, my FJ would not turn over today. I guess the battery just go to low as I turned the key and nothing. 2.8 year old Red Top Optima and I have not driven her in a month given my busy schedule.
Anyway, no biggie as my buddy was over so we can just jump it. Got out the cables, he hooked them up and we went to jump it and the jumper cables started smoking at the connection points on both the FJ and the car - started to melt the plastic near the clamps. I have never seen such a thing. I looked at the cables and, not sure if it really matters, he had hooked up the ground to the (-) pole on the FJ battery and not grounded to the frame. I figured that was the issue. Well, I regrounded to the frame and same thing.
We went on to try this 5 times and every time - even with nicer 2nd pair of heavier gauge cables just to test - the moment I attach the ground on the FJ I get some sparks as I clamp to the frame and smoke starts to form (at connection in car and FJ) as the plastic melts and the cables and FJ battery get warm. and the car is not even running or turned on.
Is this a battery issue with the Optima or something bigger? I have a little device that I can stick into a cars lighter that gives you electrical system 4 light feedback - like if the battery is dead or low - and it does not even light up now. Turn the key, the AMP gauge does not even deflect. absolute 0 electrical activity.
WTF is going on? I have never seen this. Jumped cars many dozen of times before in minutes with never an issue. Plus, never had issues before like this with the FJ. Last time I drove it... zero issues. Just parked it inside.
FYI, 2 months ago I replaced the old starter and solenoid. but had driven it 10 times since I did that. and now.....
Anyway, no biggie as my buddy was over so we can just jump it. Got out the cables, he hooked them up and we went to jump it and the jumper cables started smoking at the connection points on both the FJ and the car - started to melt the plastic near the clamps. I have never seen such a thing. I looked at the cables and, not sure if it really matters, he had hooked up the ground to the (-) pole on the FJ battery and not grounded to the frame. I figured that was the issue. Well, I regrounded to the frame and same thing.
We went on to try this 5 times and every time - even with nicer 2nd pair of heavier gauge cables just to test - the moment I attach the ground on the FJ I get some sparks as I clamp to the frame and smoke starts to form (at connection in car and FJ) as the plastic melts and the cables and FJ battery get warm. and the car is not even running or turned on.
Is this a battery issue with the Optima or something bigger? I have a little device that I can stick into a cars lighter that gives you electrical system 4 light feedback - like if the battery is dead or low - and it does not even light up now. Turn the key, the AMP gauge does not even deflect. absolute 0 electrical activity.
WTF is going on? I have never seen this. Jumped cars many dozen of times before in minutes with never an issue. Plus, never had issues before like this with the FJ. Last time I drove it... zero issues. Just parked it inside.
FYI, 2 months ago I replaced the old starter and solenoid. but had driven it 10 times since I did that. and now.....