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1990 ford f-150 pickup terminal cables smoking
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Aerozepplen
New User
Dec 29, 2007, 8:40 AM
Post #1 of 6
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1990 ford f-150 pickup terminal cables smoking
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This is probably going to sound pretty dumb. The negative terminal ground wire for my ford over heated and melted off the insulation surrounding it. I knew it was possible that even one dead cell in the batter can cause problems so I replaced it and the terminal cable. The same issue arouse again. I was going to clean up the area the cable is grounded to and see if maybe there is some corrosion causing a bad connection but I was still hoping for some thoughts and ideas. Thanks for rthe help.
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way2old
Veteran
/ Moderator
Dec 29, 2007, 1:33 PM
Post #2 of 6
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Re: 1990 ford f-150 pickup terminal cables smoking
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Sounds like you are heading in the right direction. I would look at all grounds to be sure they are clean and tight. Loose grounds will cause excessive amperage flow and cause the heat. Good luck.
Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds
(This post was edited by way2old on Dec 29, 2007, 1:33 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 29, 2007, 2:00 PM
Post #3 of 6
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Re: 1990 ford f-150 pickup terminal cables smoking
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Just a thought: Does this neg battery cable end at the battery have the smaller ground to body and was that the one that melted? If so the ground at the engine block end of the neg cable could be re-routing all the juice of starting it thru whatever back thru the body and that could explain it. That can mess up other things that weren't meant to carry the full force of ground too that a starter motor needs,
T
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Aerozepplen
New User
Dec 29, 2007, 2:30 PM
Post #4 of 6
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Re: 1990 ford f-150 pickup terminal cables smoking
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yeah i went ahead and cleaned all the areas where the cables have to ground. I can get it to start like before but it still struggles some. theres a smaller cable that grounded to the body bot the starter, thats the one that ended up starting to smoke and melt the insulation. I assume something between the starter and the batter is where i have to look next.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 29, 2007, 3:04 PM
Post #5 of 6
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Re: 1990 ford f-150 pickup terminal cables smoking
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Just note: The starter when normal is close to a dead short on the battery and takes the most amps of anything. That whole cable must be good all along the way. A weak starter will draw even more amps. Back when I used to rplace all battery cable with then called 6volt cable which are double the gauge size. Now you can just ask for "One" gauge as they are the same. Must be all of them though as they are only as good as the weakest one. That should have bat cable to solonoid and another from that to starter. Ground bat cable has the pigtail to body and on to block with the larger eyelet end. No harm as these get older to add ground straps from key engine bolts to body ground. They sell those without insulation on the wire at all as they don't need it. Just braided wire and eyelet ends.
When amps has trouble getting back to battery it will pick anything it can. I've seen clutch cables, speedo cables, shifter linkage and assorted things try and just fry those things. The box beam frame on the Ford trucks and cars isn't really grounded to either the body or the engine if all rubber mounts are perfect so that can not be counted on as a ground unless you have a strap for it which the truck did but they get broken over the years.
When all is known well grounded if starter still struggles than it might be bad or the engine has a problem turning freeley which used to be a problem when engine were warm and just turned off like to get fuel and struggled to restart. The heavier cables cured that for many old beasts I've dealt with,
T
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Aerozepplen
New User
Dec 29, 2007, 4:35 PM
Post #6 of 6
(2112 views)
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Re: 1990 ford f-150 pickup terminal cables smoking
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hey thanks for all the suggestions.
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