Battery termianal getting hot???
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Battery termianal getting hot???
I have 98 coupe, 6spd, and the positive battery terminal is getting hot while the vehicle is running. The heat is coming from teh red wire that goes to the fuse box by the battery.
The negative terminal is normal temp. And there is no heat when the vehicle is off.
Is this normal?
Thanks for any help.
The negative terminal is normal temp. And there is no heat when the vehicle is off.
Is this normal?
Thanks for any help.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 860
Likes: 3
I have 98 coupe, 6spd, and the positive battery terminal is getting hot while the vehicle is running. The heat is coming from teh red wire that goes to the fuse box by the battery.
The negative terminal is normal temp. And there is no heat when the vehicle is off.
Is this normal?
Thanks for any help.
The negative terminal is normal temp. And there is no heat when the vehicle is off.
Is this normal?
Thanks for any help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,383
Likes: 13
From: Kinston North Carolina
Pos battery current, and neg battery current is exactly the same. If one gets hot and the other dosn't, there is high resistance at that point. Dirty, or loose connection, or bad cable.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Loose/poor connections ALL create higher than normal resistance and subsequent higher temps. Not a good thing. On that particular wire, I would be looking at the termination on BOTH ends. Problem there though is that one end is incorporated into the main positive cable; sort of a "all-in-one deal". To replace (without re-designing or changing) involves replacing the complete positive battery cable and that means getting down under to remove the main cable from the starter too.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
The volt gauge is working correctly, no fluctuations. With the vehicl off and before starting 11.5 volts, 13.3-13.5 volts with the engine running. I believe that the positive cable is not the original for GM, and that the positive cable is a little loose.
Is there anything special I have to do when I disconnect the battery cables to clean them? Will I have to reset my computer or anything?
Thanks, for all the help.
Is there anything special I have to do when I disconnect the battery cables to clean them? Will I have to reset my computer or anything?
Thanks, for all the help.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 5
From: Stark County Ohio
The volt gauge is working correctly, no fluctuations. With the vehicl off and before starting 11.5 volts, 13.3-13.5 volts with the engine running. I believe that the positive cable is not the original for GM, and that the positive cable is a little loose.
Is there anything special I have to do when I disconnect the battery cables to clean them? Will I have to reset my computer or anything?
Thanks, for all the help.
Is there anything special I have to do when I disconnect the battery cables to clean them? Will I have to reset my computer or anything?
Thanks, for all the help.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 1
From: Mohegan Lake New York
Are you refering to the ten gauge wire or the thick battery cable? either way you have one or two problems, I think you are refering to the 10 gauge wire you may have a poor or corroded connection on battery cable and the ten gauge wire is carrying the load or the ten gauge wire is corroded,broken internally and hi resistance hence the heat.Let car totally cool start car turn everything on and feel offending wire to see if one end gets hot first thats where the bad connection is if whole wire heats up uniformly most likely its carrying the bulk of the electrical load and the problem is the batt cable or batt connections
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
I turned on all the accessories, with engine running, and both of the positive battery cables got hot, the 10 gauge wire got hot by the battery. The 10 guage wire by the fuse box stayed cool.
Will I need to re-program the computer if I disconnect the battery?
Titan
Will I need to re-program the computer if I disconnect the battery?
Titan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
I'd watch that terminal end. Replacing the terminal end is not a "good fix", as they usually don't make as good contact as an original integrated cable and terminal. It also is prone to corrosion with time. Replacing the whole cable is the acceptable way.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 1
From: Mohegan Lake New York
just want to expand on that just a little more electrics are MUCHO important on our cars like said I'de replace whole cable but beware of off brands get exact replacement some battery cable replacements are aluminum wire or the wire is of a lesser gauge. compare replacement W/orig.if replacement looks thinner or is lighter in weight don't use.this is one of those small items in your vette that is actually pretty important
