HELP! Alternator wire melting (1 Viewer)

[theluckettslad]

When I go to turn the old girl over the black and white wire coming from the alternator starts to melt. I checked the ground from the starter to the frame and its tight on the frame. Also It hasn't been turning over as hard as it used to. I don't know if this will help but i recently added a DUI HEI distributor. One more thing one morning when turning it over I noticed a small spark coming from the steering column. Any help would greatly appreciated!

Thanks
Eric

 

[natvet]

Year and engine U have? Does it have a voltage reg? The steering column spark sounds like a short in the ignition switch??

 

[gisham]

i had this issue when i had painted my alternator bracket and put it back on. The alternator was not making a good ground with the bracket and was burning up that wire.

It is my understanding the the blk/wht wire is just there to assure that the VR is seeing the same ground as the alternator... so check your grounding situation

 

[Pin_Head]

If the alternator wire is melting during starting the gound between the starter and the negative cable of the battery is bad electrically (corrosion/high resistance), no matter whether the bolt is tight or not.

 

[theluckettslad]

I dropped it off at a place that restores Land Rovers and other imports. Electrical wires just scare me. I will relay the information about the starter ground being the problem and check back when I found out what the problem was.

Thanks as always

Eric

 

[Pin_Head]

It takes a lot longer to drop it off and pick it up than to R&R the ground strap.
Even if the wire was hot, (and being a ground wire, it is not) it would only be 12V, so it is nothing to be skeered of.

 

[phase]

Yes, it may only be 12v but there is more than enough kick in the charging system of a cruiser to stop your heart... It can take as little as 200ma to be lethal. The mechanic in my old Man's workshop was hospitalised when his arm contacted the postive pole of the alternator and it shorted out through his head to the bonnet due to a dodgy earth cable. (was pretty painful for him but the sparks flying out of his head was a cool party trick!)

Dont be scared, just be careful.

 

[Splangy]

Yes, it may only be 12v but there is more than enough kick in the charging system of a cruiser to stop your heart... It can take as little as 200ma to be lethal. The mechanic in my old Man's workshop was hospitalised when his arm contacted the postive pole of the alternator and it shorted out through his head to the bonnet due to a dodgy earth cable. (was pretty painful for him but the sparks flying out of his head was a cool party trick!)

Dont be scared, just be careful.

LOL! It's just a 12V automotive ground! The car must have been running when that fool fried his head (which is a dubious story if I've ever heard one.) You wouldn't replace a ground cable with the car running would you? Just go buy a new $5 cable and toss it in. If you're really that scared just disconnect both battery terminals at the battery before replacing the ground wire. Electricity can't hurt you if there's no circuit to complete through your body!

 

[phase]

LOL! It's just a 12V automotive ground! The car must have been running when that fool fried his head (which is a dubious story if I've ever heard one.) You wouldn't replace a ground cable with the car running would you? Just go buy a new $5 cable and toss it in. If you're really that scared just disconnect both battery terminals at the battery before replacing the ground wire. Electricity can't hurt you if there's no circuit to complete through your body!

Yeah, thats fair enough and yes, the car was running when he got booted which I agree was pretty stupid of him. I apologise, I wasn't suggesting that replacing the ground strap was dangerous, I was just trying to make the point that just because automotive electrics are only 12v, doesn't mean there is no risk at all.

 

[Eshu Elegua]

12 v does not hurt...Amperes its the sweet juice to your heart that make you dance like a wolf in the moon

 

[theluckettslad]

It damaged all the wires coming out of the alternator and some others. If it was only one wire I would have done it myself. I'm not so worried about getting hurt as I am worried I would wire something wrong. It started burning where the ground for the coil is and worked its way to the alternator. Mess................................

 

[ccasteel]

Looking forward to what you find out. I am reinstalling a rebuilt engine and am having the same problem. I replaced the wire with a new, slightly heavier guage, and noticed it was still getting hot when trying to start the car. I will check these other things mentioned and replace the battery cable to the starter. I needed to replace it anyway because it's red, and everyone that looks at it assumes it's the + side.

 

[Pin_Head]

I will check these other things mentioned and replace the battery cable to the starter.

It is not the battery cable to the starter that is the problem. The problem is the lack (or poor connection) of a ground cable from the starter to the - side of the battery. Without a functional ground for the engine starter motor, all of the current is flowing through the alternator ground wire, burning it up.

 

[ccasteel]

It is not the battery cable to the starter that is the problem. The problem is the lack (or poor connection) of a ground cable from the starter to the - side of the battery. Without a functional ground for the engine starter motor, all of the current is flowing through the alternator ground wire, burning it up.

Uh, I'm gonna let my ignorance come shining through here. I know I should probably have a look before I say anything, but memory tells me I have a cable running directly from the starter to the - side of the battery. That is the one I thought needed replaced. Are we not saying the same thing.

 

[oilpond]

Yes, it may only be 12v but there is more than enough kick in the charging system of a cruiser to stop your heart... It can take as little as 200ma to be lethal. The mechanic in my old Man's workshop was hospitalised when his arm contacted the postive pole of the alternator and it shorted out through his head to the bonnet due to a dodgy earth cable. (was pretty painful for him but the sparks flying out of his head was a cool party trick!)

Dont be scared, just be careful.

rofl

 

[Pin_Head]

Uh, I'm gonna let my ignorance come shining through here. I know I should probably have a look before I say anything, but memory tells me I have a cable running directly from the starter to the - side of the battery. That is the one I thought needed replaced. Are we not saying the same thing.

It is the + side of the battery that connects directly to the solenoid on the starter motor.

The battery negative side is usually connected to the frame or the engine block. If the - side is connected to the frame, there is a ground strap from the starter motor to the frame to complete the circuit.

 

[ccasteel]

My bad

Thanks Pin_Head. I loosened the ground on my starter to get some things out of the way when I replaced my oil pan gasket. And, of course, forgot to tighten it back up. Like they say, it's all in the details.