Hot Battery Terminals?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach VA
Hot Battery Terminals?
Hi All -
I went to start up my 69 convertible yesterday and had some significant issues. It eventually started and I pulled it out of the garage only to have it shut off. I tried to restart it with no luck. Eventually, it stopped cranking. My initial thought was the battery was dead, but the radio and clock were still on. I have a kill switch on the positive terminal, so I checked it to make sure it was tight and was surprised that it was extremely hot to the touch - hot enough that I jerked my hand out of there. I kill the battery every time after I drive the car and I can't ever recall it being hot.
Has anyone ever experienced anything like this or know what the issue could be? Thanks in advance.
I went to start up my 69 convertible yesterday and had some significant issues. It eventually started and I pulled it out of the garage only to have it shut off. I tried to restart it with no luck. Eventually, it stopped cranking. My initial thought was the battery was dead, but the radio and clock were still on. I have a kill switch on the positive terminal, so I checked it to make sure it was tight and was surprised that it was extremely hot to the touch - hot enough that I jerked my hand out of there. I kill the battery every time after I drive the car and I can't ever recall it being hot.
Has anyone ever experienced anything like this or know what the issue could be? Thanks in advance.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
The radio and lights don't take very much current to operate; so a battery very near death can still operate them. But, a weak battery will not have enough current capacity to start a car...or it will overheat when grinding slow while 'trying'.
You have a very weak, old, risky battery. Replace it.
You have a very weak, old, risky battery. Replace it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
Hi All -
I went to start up my 69 convertible yesterday and had some significant issues. It eventually started and I pulled it out of the garage only to have it shut off. I tried to restart it with no luck. Eventually, it stopped cranking. My initial thought was the battery was dead, but the radio and clock were still on. I have a kill switch on the positive terminal, so I checked it to make sure it was tight and was surprised that it was extremely hot to the touch - hot enough that I jerked my hand out of there. I kill the battery every time after I drive the car and I can't ever recall it being hot.
Has anyone ever experienced anything like this or know what the issue could be? Thanks in advance.
I went to start up my 69 convertible yesterday and had some significant issues. It eventually started and I pulled it out of the garage only to have it shut off. I tried to restart it with no luck. Eventually, it stopped cranking. My initial thought was the battery was dead, but the radio and clock were still on. I have a kill switch on the positive terminal, so I checked it to make sure it was tight and was surprised that it was extremely hot to the touch - hot enough that I jerked my hand out of there. I kill the battery every time after I drive the car and I can't ever recall it being hot.
Has anyone ever experienced anything like this or know what the issue could be? Thanks in advance.
Having said that, 7T1vette makes a good point which ALSO may be true.
