Small Block & Big Block Chevy Specific Mouse & Rat Motor Discussion & Conversions

SBC Problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-31-2008, 02:38 PM
  #1  
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
 
LS1Z28_98's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default SBC Problem

I know this isnt an LS1 engine, but looking for some input. I have a 305 in a 1933 Ford. My battery was old and weak, but still hanging on. I havnt started the car in months. I checked the battery connections and I had a loose terminal on the ground wire. I ended up having to replace both negative and positive terminals. I got the car turning over and I killed the battery trying to start it.

I put the battery charger on and it seemed to draw power from the battery instead of charge it

I bought a new battery

I connected the positive and then when I put the negative on it sparked. Once the connection was good, smoke started pouring from the hood. I took the negative off and found the wire from the alternator to the starter was melted to the point that the wire was seperated from the insulation. No other wires seemed damaged.

WTF happened with this new battery??

I have a suspicion the battery charger took a **** and did something in there, but does anybody have any ideas? I can only think that the charger messed up a diode in the alt.
Old 10-31-2008, 03:42 PM
  #2  
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
MrOverkill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: On top of your MOM!
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I think you may have crossed up the pos and neg, or when you canged terminals you may hooked the charge wire to the neg and grounded it out.....
Old 10-31-2008, 03:44 PM
  #3  
In-Zane Moderator
iTrader: (25)
 
ZONES89RS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Conroe, Texas
Posts: 11,939
Received 32 Likes on 19 Posts

Default

Maybe you have the positive cable grounding out?
Old 10-31-2008, 04:01 PM
  #4  
TECH Apprentice
Thread Starter
 
LS1Z28_98's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

That is one thing I am positive of, The wires are as they should be -to- and + to +
Old 10-31-2008, 04:24 PM
  #5  
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
MrOverkill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: On top of your MOM!
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Something grounded out, make sure you install a fusable link when you rewire it. That will save you from having to replace all the wiring if it happens again.....
Old 11-01-2008, 11:09 AM
  #6  
Teching In
 
danmathews's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

yup its a short to ground some where. check all areas where a hot part(i.e. exhaust, head) some where that cut your circuit short. That let your electrons go from pos. to neg. way to fast(too much amperage) and smoked the lead plates in the battery so that they do not create the chemical electon imbalance that is needed to provide 12.6V DC. Thats my diagnosis
Old 11-03-2008, 09:03 AM
  #7  
Teching In
 
Joe87MonteSS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Why do you have a wire going from the alternator to the starter? If it were me, I would redo that. Run a positive from the battery to the starter. Run the charge wire from the alternator to the positive on the battery. Ground the battery to the frame. Ground the engine to the frame. Also run a ground from the starter case to the frame.

You can never have to many grounds. Unless it starts looking like a spider web....
Old 11-03-2008, 10:46 AM
  #8  
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
MrOverkill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: On top of your MOM!
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I see no issue with the charge wire going from the alt to the starter, and no reason to change it. It makes it much cleaner looking, I do my stuff the same way as I HATE to see wires hanging like pasta.



Quick Reply: SBC Problem



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:42 AM.