GM shifter cable
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
If if this cable "was" the source of ground for the starter and the cable burnt in two and you attempted a start you would cook a series of smaller grounds.Or being that the center cable is now in two pieces wouldnt the outer steel wound case of the cable take over being the ground since its securely fastened at both ends with large C clips?If thats the case why did the inner cable burn when the larger outer case was probably providing a better ground.
OK I believe if enough grounds were left off the car this could happen but no one seems to be able to point to the exact ground that was at fault.
The negative battery cable ground couldnt cause this. (as Ironcross was saying)
Edit -ok Wilcox did state the ground at the right motor mount.I address that in my post below.
Last edited by ...Roger...; Sep 2, 2008 at 11:07 AM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Roger,
This has nothing to do with the negative battery cable to the frame. The problem comes from what is run on the engine. (Starter, alternator, etc).
If the ground from the engine to the frame is not good, then the electrical circuit will seek a ground.
The first alternative and most common source is the shifter cable on the AT cars.
Let’s take for instance a 81. The positive wire runs to the starter, and then there is a jumper ground from the starter frame right beside where the engine mount stand is located. This wire runs from the top bolt in the starter brace to the frame and secures the ground on the starter. If this is left off, the car will seek a ground fry shifter cables.
This has nothing to do with the negative battery cable to the frame. The problem comes from what is run on the engine. (Starter, alternator, etc).
If the ground from the engine to the frame is not good, then the electrical circuit will seek a ground.
The first alternative and most common source is the shifter cable on the AT cars.
Let’s take for instance a 81. The positive wire runs to the starter, and then there is a jumper ground from the starter frame right beside where the engine mount stand is located. This wire runs from the top bolt in the starter brace to the frame and secures the ground on the starter. If this is left off, the car will seek a ground fry shifter cables.
I was trying to tell Ironcross the negative battery cable connection was not the source of the bad ground causing the shift cable or the park brake cable to become the path to ground.
As you mentioned the cable that jumpers the rubber in the motor mount is the only ground that would cause the STARTER to seek ground through the shift cable.
BUT what if its NOT the starter that is seeking the ground that is burning the shift cable? What if some of the birdcage grounds are missing and its interior loads from the dash or the rear window defogger or radio amps (that are grounded to the birdcage rather than directly to the battery) thats seeking ground through the shift cable?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
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From: Dayton, Ohio
I hope Toms grounds are good because I only have 1 more cable left to send him.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: mount holly NC
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Once upon a time I had a 71 Camaro, while driving along smoke came from the console, after I pulled over I shifted into park. The smoke stoped because the cable came apart. The problem was because the positive cable chafed on the frame and the current found its way up the shifter cable. Never had that problem before or since but I've learned to check the positive and negative cables and make sure that they don't touch anything that they shouldn't. PG
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Taylor Michigan
Oh, the issue was slow cranking at times.
whatever
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Sorry, thats exactly the source. The positive cable was at the starter with a clean connection Cleaning the short negative battery cable that attaches to the frame at the cross member right under the battery cured the issue. It had not been touched for 35 years and we took the car out of storage to reinstall its engine.
Oh, the issue was slow cranking at times.
whatever
Oh, the issue was slow cranking at times.
whatever
I hope you will accept my apology.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Yerington NV
Yeah, replaced the cable with a used one that DWNCCHS sent me, and it feels much better, more stable and shifts good. I was pretty sure it was a crappy cable from local autoparts store (Dorman part), and all is well. All my grounds are good, was probably a good idea to test them all anyway
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