Positive battery cable VERY HOT!

[General_01]

Here is what happened:

Over the weekend  my starter broke. I decided I would get a starter for a '95 Dodge Ram 5.9 liter to get a smaller starter. I pulled the old one out and hooked up the new starter and put it in. I turned it over several times to make sure it worked after I was done putting it in last night. Tonight I started the car up and let it run for a good 5 minutes and then backed it out and shut it off. I picked up my tools I had been using and then decided to go for a spin. I got about 1/2 mile away and went to leave a stop sign and the car lost power and smoke was coming from under the hood. I popped the hood to find the covering on the positive battery cable had melted and it was very hot. I disconnected the battery cable and my wife came and towed me home.

Any ideas on what would cause this?

Here are a couple pics.

[General_01]

I just went out and looked things over. It looks like I forgot to run the cable through the bracket on the inner fender, so it fell against the header. The header burned through the covering so the bare cable was hitting the header. .

[elacruze]

Been there, done that. Glad it wasn't worse.

[Nacho-RT74]

nice short there! :s

thanks God wasn't more than that!

[bill440rt]

Sorry to hear that. sounds like it could have been a lot worse!
But, if you don't mind me asking, why is your starter relay mounted on the fender apron? And, the battery cable is draped over it. That could lead to future problems. It should be mounted on the firewall.

[tan top]

wow you was lucky dude 

[ACUDANUT]

Sorry to hear that. sounds like it could have been a lot worse!
But, if you don't mind me asking, why is your starter relay mounted on the fender apron? And, the battery cable is draped over it. That could lead to future problems. It should be mounted on the firewall.

71-74 Chryslers have the starter relay mounted onto the Inner Fender area....Much easier to get to/fix VS. on the firewall

[General_01]

Sorry to hear that. sounds like it could have been a lot worse!
But, if you don't mind me asking, why is your starter relay mounted on the fender apron? And, the battery cable is draped over it. That could lead to future problems. It should be mounted on the firewall.

ACUDANUT is right Bill. That is where the starter relay is mounted on the 3rd gens. The battery cable is just laying there because I moved it around while looking around a little. It usually runs from the starter, straight across to the inner fender and the bracket I forgot to put it back into, then follow up the wheel well lip you see and then to the POS battery post.

I got another cable today. I found out all Autozone sells are black cables for positive or negative. I also got one a little longer so I could make sure I had enough to route it out of the way. The silver lining was that the starter was fine so I didn't have to replace that again.

[FLG]

Hmmm on my 73 its mounted on the firewall  

I think its 71-2 have em on the fender 

[General_01]

Hmmm on my 73 its mounted on the firewall  

I think its 71-2 have em on the fender  

Oh yeah. I forgot the big washer fluid container was put on the fender by the battery for the '73. I don't have a washer fluid container, but I think it was a tall, skinny one located between the battery and the radiator. I just know the starter relay on my car has been there since I got it. Never really paid attention on other cars. I am usually looking at the the motor, what heads, carb, etc.

Edit-Just looked up other pics of '71s. Washer fluid container is on passenger side. I guess when they moved it to drivers side, they moved the starter relay to the firewall.

[Nacho-RT74]

71/72 on inner fender at a side of batt.

73/74 just right above the brake booster

Edit-Just looked up other pics of '71s. Washer fluid container is on passenger side. I guess when they moved it to drivers side, they moved the starter relay to the firewall.

maybe more because the aligment access panel on inner fender