why is the gournd strap getting hot i mean it starts smoking, only when i try starting the car i have the whole wiring harness almost out to try and find a short but i am lost any ideas would be great
thanks
eric

 

I think you are headed in the right direction. It sounds like you have a ground somewhere on a hot wire and the ground strap is doing it's job. All I can say is get a multi-meter and keep looking.

Good luck

-Boz

 

Try cleaning the frame hole where the strap is attached. Make sure it is tight on both ends. Loose connects create heat. The strap should only be providing ground for the electrical system, i.e. I/P, ECM, Radio, lighting ...etc, but not for the starter.

I'd replace the engine to battery ground, and also add one from the frame to one of the heads (rear should have at least on free bracket bolt-hole available. You can buy a battery cable with the bolt-hole terminals on both ends at any auto-parts store.

The ground strap isn't designed to carry the amount of current the stater is pulling that's why it's getting hot.

I had a 76 Camaro whose ground cable was so corroded that it was grounding though the gear shifter cable, the cable got so hot it melted the plastic cable carrier, once that melted away I couldn't shift.

 

so you think adding more ground straps from the engine to that body would help. alos how could it just be when i am staring it, it will do this. there is only two wires going to the starter and none of them are touching

 

I would add a thick ground wire from the battery to the alternator bracket or the engine block.

I had the issue you are having when I relocated my battery to the back of the car.

Originally, there was a large wire from the battery that attached to the alternator bracket on the motor, when I moved the battery, that connection was no longer there and the little ground strap that goes from the head to the firewall would get really hot.

This would happen only when starting the car since there are so many amps beign drawn by the starter.

 

THAT IS IT. thank you i did relocate my batery to the trunk. i think that will do it. thanks alot Zepher
eric

 

where did you set your new ground wire just on the frame connecting to the engine or alternator bracket

 

Does your car sometimes drag when trying to start?
I added a large cable from the engine to the body since running another cable from the battery to the engine was a pain.
Also make sure that the battery to chassis connection is very good as well.

 

Your best bet will be to ground the block to the subframe rail. The metal is thicker there than at the firewall and will conduct better. You should also ground the battery to the rear subframe rail for the same reason. Also make sure to scrape the paint away where you connect the ground cables to the chassis.