I tried to start my 240D. It turned over slow. I turned the key to OFF and it kept trying to start for up to a minute even with the key out. I smelled wire burning and found the negative cable at the battery smoking. What would cause this? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
wires smoking
- Thread starter maynarga
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RobS
Super Member
Sounds like a stuck ignition switch or starter relay. The wires overheating is probably normal for running the starter for so long. Check for damage in the wiring but focus on the switch or relay for root cause /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
ym2610
Silver Member
Sounds like a starter, the slow turning over, and the solenoid hung, thats what made the cable get so hot, pulling a lot of amps, how cold was it, I have had autos to do the same thing, but I would also check the switch, it could have shorted out, I would leave the cable off, just until you get time to check everything, I would also get the battery checked, if it pulled it down, might have shorted the plates in it want hurt to have a full charge to start with, but this is just my 5 cents worth. Good Luck....Robert
Jagmandave
Veteran Member
I'd check the easy stuff first, check the battery cable connection at the battery and be sure to check where the ground cable connects to the frame. A poor gound can cause this too. Good luck!
Soundguy
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My 1700 did that to me one cold morning.. i had to rap the side of the solenoid with my boot to make the solenoid disengage.
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Keoke
Gold Member
Maynarqa, a high starter draw in amps due to mechanical or elcectrical fault in starter will cause contact washer in solenoid or relay to fuse across the battery and starter contacts in the solenoid.
This would cause the starter to continue running even after you backed off the start position on ign switch.
You can try tapping on solenoid or relay case to break this unwanted contact free.
The smoking ground cable may be due to this excess current flowing thru it from the above condition. This especially true if the neg cable is short as compared to the positive cable.
Any cable that is smoking through out it's length is not suffering from a low amp flow (hi res @ connections) condition. More likely the current flow in cable is beyond cable capacity instead.
Mechanical fault in starter motors causing heavy current draw is usually due to worn end bushings that allow the armature to rub on the field coil shoes while cranking.
Engine mechanical faults (excess friction or hydro lock) can also cause heavy current draw; however, this is rare.
Put a good volt meter across a fully charged battery and note battery voltage while cranking. If it falls below 9.6 volts there is a good chance your starter taking more then normal amperage draw.
While doing test keep neg battery clamp loose just in case starter won't turn off so you can break circuit at battery post.
An inductive dc amp meter is best for measuring starter but most don't have one of these.
A poor man's way to get a hint of excess starter draw is to put head lamps on and hit the starter if lamps go down to almost nothing then something (starter) is sucking up a lot of amps. This test assumes a fully charge battery and normal resistances in both the pos and neg legs of the starter circuit.
cheers,
This would cause the starter to continue running even after you backed off the start position on ign switch.
You can try tapping on solenoid or relay case to break this unwanted contact free.
The smoking ground cable may be due to this excess current flowing thru it from the above condition. This especially true if the neg cable is short as compared to the positive cable.
Any cable that is smoking through out it's length is not suffering from a low amp flow (hi res @ connections) condition. More likely the current flow in cable is beyond cable capacity instead.
Mechanical fault in starter motors causing heavy current draw is usually due to worn end bushings that allow the armature to rub on the field coil shoes while cranking.
Engine mechanical faults (excess friction or hydro lock) can also cause heavy current draw; however, this is rare.
Put a good volt meter across a fully charged battery and note battery voltage while cranking. If it falls below 9.6 volts there is a good chance your starter taking more then normal amperage draw.
While doing test keep neg battery clamp loose just in case starter won't turn off so you can break circuit at battery post.
An inductive dc amp meter is best for measuring starter but most don't have one of these.
A poor man's way to get a hint of excess starter draw is to put head lamps on and hit the starter if lamps go down to almost nothing then something (starter) is sucking up a lot of amps. This test assumes a fully charge battery and normal resistances in both the pos and neg legs of the starter circuit.
cheers,
cwarrix
Silver Member
I would check the connections on the starter and battery as others mentioned. I've seen this happen on other equipment.