Smoking ground wire

Redog · 03-11-2008, 09:53 AM

Interseting problem, never heard or seen this before.

I was putting in my new alternator and I noticed a ground wire was melted a bit. I taped it up thinking maybe it got wet with all the rain we've had here over the past few days.

Put in the new alt and took it for a drive. Got home and felt the wires to the alt (put in a 120 amp replacing the 100 amp) and they were not hot but the ground wire started smoking up again.

This isn't the wire that goes from the battery to the block. This one went from the battery to the body/fender. I'm thinking this was the 307's Alternator ground wire, but I still don't understand why it was smoking

Any ideas?

texasred · 03-11-2008, 10:05 AM

Check ALL your grounds for good connection (no paint underneath) and hidden corrosion (puffy insulation). Especially the battery ground and block to chassis ground. It's smoking because it's grounding everything through there and that's a lotta amps!

And replace that smoking wire.
C.J.

Redog · 03-11-2008, 10:37 AM

OK it was grounded the the fender and the fender has paint on it

03-11-2008, 09:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
Redog Alero Chapter Secretary Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Newtown, PA Posts: 679	Smoking ground wire Interseting problem, never heard or seen this before. I was putting in my new alternator and I noticed a ground wire was melted a bit. I taped it up thinking maybe it got wet with all the rain we've had here over the past few days. Put in the new alt and took it for a drive. Got home and felt the wires to the alt (put in a 120 amp replacing the 100 amp) and they were not hot but the ground wire started smoking up again. This isn't the wire that goes from the battery to the block. This one went from the battery to the body/fender. I'm thinking this was the 307's Alternator ground wire, but I still don't understand why it was smoking Any ideas? __________________ Me 2000 Alero running 14's 1985 Delta 88 w/1968 350 rocket 2005 Nissan Altima (her's)

03-11-2008, 10:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
texasred Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 805	Check ALL your grounds for good connection (no paint underneath) and hidden corrosion (puffy insulation). Especially the battery ground and block to chassis ground. It's smoking because it's grounding everything through there and that's a lotta amps! And replace that smoking wire. C.J. __________________ Home of the 1971 Cutlass Supreme convertible Super Karate Monkey Death Car.

03-11-2008, 10:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
Redog Alero Chapter Secretary Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Newtown, PA Posts: 679	OK it was grounded the the fender and the fender has paint on it __________________ Me 2000 Alero running 14's 1985 Delta 88 w/1968 350 rocket 2005 Nissan Altima (her's)

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