Battery Cables Melting

agoodlet

Cadet
Joined
Oct 25, 2007
Messages
14
My battery Cables are getting very hot and melting. I have them attached nice and tight with some clamps that bolt on the battery. Could this be a sign on something wrong with the starter or something? It doesnt get hot until I try to start the motor.
 

Lone Duck

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 17, 2007
Messages
868
Re: Battery Cables Melting

:cool:It sure sounds like you have a short somewhere, The starter is the place to start looking. Also check all your ground wires. Especialy the heavy one from batt. to engine ground. It should be grounded to engine or starter, not outboard frame.
 

CharlieB

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
5,617
Re: Battery Cables Melting

If you have more than one battery and a battery selector switch make double sure that all cables are connected CORRECTLY.

I've seen what should have been a positive connected to the negative post, all was fine till he turned it on BOTH.
 

Mark42

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
9,334
Re: Battery Cables Melting

If the starter is hot, its shorted out. Check the resistance on the starter. If ic checks out OK, check all the connections. I'm assuming you have the correct gauge starter cables.
 

agoodlet

Cadet
Joined
Oct 25, 2007
Messages
14
Re: Battery Cables Melting

It still has the original cables that were on the motor. The starter when the key is turned goes up, turns the wheel once, goes back down, etc. Is this the correct procedure? (Pull start was so much easier!)
 

Mark42

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
9,334
Re: Battery Cables Melting

It still has the original cables that were on the motor. The starter when the key is turned goes up, turns the wheel once, goes back down, etc. Is this the correct procedure? (Pull start was so much easier!)

You didn't mention the condition of the battery. Test it with a known good battery and make sure all connections are clean. You can also jump the starter right off the battery with a set of jumper cables. Should give you an idea if the starter is bad or the cables are bad.
 

bgbass.1

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 1, 2007
Messages
558
Re: Battery Cables Melting

I would change the cables coming off battery cables corrode from inside out so you wont see it
 

azlakes

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Messages
720
Re: Battery Cables Melting

... noticed my cables also got pretty darn hot if I cranked on the starter too long. I dropped to short bursts, few seconds. How long are you cranking the starter?
 

agoodlet

Cadet
Joined
Oct 25, 2007
Messages
14
Re: Battery Cables Melting

turns out the coils went bad.. gotta start looking for ones to replace them I guess
 
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