Hi all I recently had a flat battery when I went to start my 78 bay 2l . Tried to jump start it but it melted the jump leads so was obviously drawing too much current. Just got a new battery and connected it up with a bit of a spark.......it was still drawing lots of current as the lead started to get hot and there was a whif of burning / small bit of smoke from somewhere around the engine bay. Any thoughts on the problem ? I was wondering about the starter motor being the problem ?
If you take out all the fuses from the fuse box and still get a spark when connecting up the battery you probably have a short some where or it is a problem with an unfused circuit (or possibly the starter). If there is no spark it will be one of the fused circuits, replace each fuse one at a time and see if you get the spark and you can narrow it down to which circuit it is. If you disconnect the feed to the starter you will most probably also have disconnected the 12V feed to the fuse box so you wont be able to rule them out.......so do the fuses first. If you have a multimeter, you will be able to measure exactly what is going on as there is always the possibility you may have more than one fault if your wiring is old and in bad condition. If you dont have a multimeter, then a 12V inline bulb held between the battery terminal and lead will be a bit more accurate than looking for a spark - if there is a current drain the bulb will glow. this multimeter how to might help you - http://thelatebay.com/index.php?topic=5352.0
The amount of current that is being drawn as soon as I connect the battery ( enuf to heat up the main battery wire within seconds and make the battery fizz) it must be a problem other than the fuse box or the fuses would blow wouldn't they ?
disconnect the big wire on the alternator and see if that's it Of not disconnect the big wire on the starter
Real simple answer would be battery hooked up backwards! If not, as mentioned pull fuses, I'm betting on the starter stuck on but not turning. Maybe hookup battery and turn key and touch start, but don't hold on. If it's stuck on, that may move it off and spring it back to position?
Sounds like the starter solenoid stuck,take the + off the starter and then connect the battery back up.or belt the starter with a hammer.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I will be trying some of them out tomoz. Don't know what caused it as its all been fine and the wiring is all pretty much in good order. Will let u know when sorted.
Update on the problem..... Checked out the wires on the starter motor and the one that goes back into the engine bay to a heat sink had worn through on the insulation by rubbing on the chassis. Bodged the repair with a bit of plastic sleeve so it could run to the garage and it all ran great again. Thanks for all the help !
