BJS racing
Well-Known Member
I don't know what the actual material is but it is thicker and softer/more flexable with a much higher heat rating than battery cable.
2nd time in three years
- Thread starter 70NPORT
- Start date
FYI, the OEM battery cable (per the FSM) is #6 gauge from the positive battery terminal to the starter and #4 gauge from the negative battery terminal to the block.
If you need to know any wire sizes, look at the FSM wiring diagram. Example: the positive battery cable is A2A-6R. The 6 is wire size and the R is red color insulation.
Upsizing the cable is a good idea. You may just want to look at pre-made battery cables. Tractor Supply has some generic cables, just need to figure out the length and size you want.
If you need to know any wire sizes, look at the FSM wiring diagram. Example: the positive battery cable is A2A-6R. The 6 is wire size and the R is red color insulation.
Upsizing the cable is a good idea. You may just want to look at pre-made battery cables. Tractor Supply has some generic cables, just need to figure out the length and size you want.
Good advice there.
70NPORT
Old Man with a Hat
yea...agreed, think I'm gonna try and go that route.
Old Boomer
New Member
Noob here. Thought I'd chime in. I have not read all the reply's. I've had a similiar problem twice thru the years. Both different cures. but the same problem. First was on a Ram power wagon. Started good in the morning. after driving her on and off thru the day. she'd just start to drag when being started. replaced the battery then the starter. Same results. Turned out to be the negative battery cable was aluminum. The hotter it got the more resistance she'd build up and would starve the starter of juice. Copper cable cured the problem.
Second one was the starter was getting hot off the exhaust. I made a heat shield out of aluminum and it cured it.
I hate electrical demons. Hope this helps.
Scott
Second one was the starter was getting hot off the exhaust. I made a heat shield out of aluminum and it cured it.
I hate electrical demons. Hope this helps.
Scott
70NPORT
Old Man with a Hat
I THINK heat is a major component here. I HOPE it is anyways otherwise I'll be under the dashboard. Yes. electrical demons are difficult to cast out.
70NPORT
Old Man with a Hat
Might there be any significance to the fact these two wires were once attached to one another via a plastic/rubber piece at the end? I split it apart while handling it. This end connects to the starter motor itself. I wasn't going to bother trying to duplicate that when I make up the new cables. I'll insulate the crimp on each wire separately, then wrap the wires together with something like this further up....
http://www.jegs.com/i/Thermo+Tec/89...2&cadevice=c&gclid=CK_D0eaH1r4CFUMF7Aodb28Adw
http://www.jegs.com/i/Thermo+Tec/89...2&cadevice=c&gclid=CK_D0eaH1r4CFUMF7Aodb28Adw
That just means it was the original wiring. The two insulators were just molded in one piece so it bolted up to the starter easily.
Nothing for you to worry about.
Nothing for you to worry about.
I'm going to suggest something... It's what I would do and it's the simplest thing.
Go buy battery cables from NAPA. You will have to make one crimp (small power wire), bolt it to the starter and the battery and you're done.
The car survived 40+ years on the OE wire and there's a lot of other cars running around with similar wiring. You won't have to crimp the battery terminal or screw around with the Mickey Mouse bolt together terminals (that will eventually fail!!!).
You're done and you can enjoy the car today!
Go buy battery cables from NAPA. You will have to make one crimp (small power wire), bolt it to the starter and the battery and you're done.
The car survived 40+ years on the OE wire and there's a lot of other cars running around with similar wiring. You won't have to crimp the battery terminal or screw around with the Mickey Mouse bolt together terminals (that will eventually fail!!!).
You're done and you can enjoy the car today!
70NPORT
Old Man with a Hat
You DO have a point the car survived 40 plus years without so much as whimper until this recent problem on that nasty cable.
I like things to be simple. Spend $25 and you're done. Drive the car.......
Posted via Topify on Android
Posted via Topify on Android
70NPORT
Old Man with a Hat
Actually, it was a tad over 40 bucks...but I had to get a few extra things along with the cable. The wire for the solenoid is undamaged and the insulation is completely intact along the entire length of it...could use a good wipe to get the grime off, but other than that its going back on. I was going to attempt to make everything from scratch before you jumped in and screwed the program all up Big_J, lol. I can understand though why making it all up would at the end yield a superior set up.......but for this situation Chrysler factory replicate is good enough for me.
Many thanks BJS...I learned something I didn't know about the difference between the automotive and welding type cables.
Many thanks BJS...I learned something I didn't know about the difference between the automotive and welding type cables.
BJS racing
Well-Known Member
Any time my friend! Glad you found a problem and hope it fixes the issues you were having. I am sure it will help quite a bit.
70NPORT
Old Man with a Hat
So I HOPE I nailed the problem. I believe it was the extremely poor condition of the original cable....intense heat was causing greater resistance. The end that connected to the stater terminal was bare conductors that were beginning to unravel and had acid buildup in it. When the car was parked and cooled down a little it would start right up. With the intense heat not so much. This was driving crazy b/c I couldn't see the bare part of the cable down below so it was hard to understand what was going on. Anyways I got new 6' starter cable from AAP, clipped the battery end and put my own post clamp on it. So far its been ok...(since sunday) no start up problems when hot, turn the key and it kicks over without any hesitation. My thanks to all who chirped in. Keeping my fingers crossed.
BJS racing
Well-Known Member
That is great! Glad it seems to be working for you! Hope it stays trouble free for you.
bulldogchesty
Senior Member
Awsome.:wav:
polara71
Old Man with a Hat
Excellent....... See you at the Ice Cream stand in Blackwood next Wednesday
commando1
Old Man with a Hat
Finally! A congratulatory dance for ya.
70NPORT
Old Man with a Hat
Crap I forgot all about that getting caught up in the Carlisle excitement last year! Where exactly is the stand at? Details? (ie get there early to park?, etc).
70NPORT
Old Man with a Hat
THANKS. I don't get the easy elbow grease problems like the rest of ya (blown head gaskets, burnt valves, wiped cams, jumped timing chain, poor vacuum, blown carbs, yada yada)....no, I gotta get the ones that require goddamn digital devices and lots of guessing to f'kn chase down. geeez.
Similar threads
