The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline neg side batt cable gets hot

when turning over engine neg side of batt gets hot.
have cleaned all connections.
is this a sign starter going bad?? would a not new batt show this symptom??
thanks

rwb: You might have a broken post inside the battery. That is a very bed thing. Try another battery just to see if it gets hot on that side. If not, replace that battery. I have had one with a bad post explode in my face. Not something I care to do ever again. Heat in one part of a battery means there is a lot of resistance and inside the battery that is never good.

I had one blow up on me, too.
About 40 years ago, very scary.
Fortunately, I was an invincible teenager then, so no permanent damage.

I second the recommendation to try another battery.
If that solves the problem, scrap the bad battery to prevent the chance of it being used.

regards,
Leon

rwb,

What is the size of your negative ground cable from the factory to the frame?

As far as size, I go as big as the auto supplier has, too small a cable you have cranking problems, do it with both cables and your starting system will be happy. Pat

Many auto suppliers stock 12v cables (4 gauge cables), especially for ground cables (and braided ground straps). It is prudent to be sure to use 2 gauge or thicker positive and negative cables (and ground straps) on 6v vehicles.

Your post is confusing. On the heading it says the cable is getting hot & in the scrip it is the battery. You don't say if it is 6 or 12 volts. If the cable itself gets hot the cable is too small in wire gauge, like TC says. If the term. is hot then there is corrosion between the cable end & bat post.