Okay while i try to start my engine it turns over quick at first and then its starts to very slowly crank like the battery is dead but its not and i started to notice that the copper ground wire is smoking and getting very hot. So i took the starter off got it checked since the ground would not get hot until the engine was cranked over. The starter is fine so now im stuck here makin my self bald trying to figure out what i did wrong. Did anyone else have this problem or can anyone tell me what stupid thing i did before im completly bald at the age of 22?

 

In what manner was the starter checked? I've seen people just put 12 volts to it without being loaded down. Seen others measure the resistance of the armature too. Remember that wires will only smoke if too much current flows through it. For example if it fell across the battery terminals. One of the most common problems with starters is the windings start to short together and the resistance of the armature becomes less over time. This causes it to pull more and more current. However, some will only pull more current when they get hot as in cranking longer under load. If it is not tested under load long enough, the problem may not be diagnosed.

You should do a couple of things. First be sure the grounds at the frame and the engine are clean, shiney and unbroken. Check the positive cluster as well. This is for peace of mind if nothing else since dirty connections will only allow too little current and would not be the source of your problem which is too much current. However you need a good base to work from. Second, find out how much current the starter will pull. I'm thinking between 60 and 80 amps. Then test the starter on the vehicle to see how much current you're pulling. There are a couple of ways to do this. One is with a shunt resistor in series to the starter. (major pita) and the other is with a clamp on amp probe. (minor pita particularly if you don't own one). They can be rented from rental shops and some automotive stores. This will answer your question if you can do it. If you do get one from a rental shop, be sure it will do DC current.

 

I went to pep boys and all they did was strap it to this machine and hook up the terminals and turned the machine on and read the amps on the amp gauge and said it was good. I don't really know much about starters. So i went home with a new ground wire to replace the old one. After installing the new ground the car cranks really nice now but the wire still gets really hot so i still have a electric problem. So im doubting its the starter what else could i have did wrong?

 

I don't believe 3/4 of numb nuts at the mickey mouse auto parts stores. If you really want to test the starter on their bozo machine, put a strap wrench on the bendix gear to load it down and see what the current draw is compared to a new one. The problem is, the cover on the bendix won't allow you to do that.

check the positive supply cable going to the starter to see if it gets hot.

 

The wire gets slightly hot but the starter gets pretty hot.

 

If you go from dead cold to starting the engine one time, there is no way the starter should be hot. I say your starter is shot. Try it first thing in the morning after sitting all night. As soon as the engine starts, shut it off. If the starter is hot, it's shot. Sounds like Johnny Cochran, "If the starter is hot, then it must be shot".