melting wires

[marv914]

I just rebuilt and installed my engine and when I connect the battery, the wire between the alternator and the starter gets hot and melts the insulation. The wire between the starter and battery also heats up but I haven't left it connected long enough to see if it will melt also. The tranny ground strap is connected. I'm using a more powerful battery (about 620 CCA) because I raised the compression. Does anyone have any ideas what might cause this problem? Or maybe I’m running too much current through thin old wires, but I haven't even turned ignition switch on. All help is appreciated

Thanks
Marv

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Something inside the alternator is shorting the B+ lead to ground. Since it's tough to electrically install the alternator wrong (the relay board plug only plugs in one way, and the B+ wire bolts onto the starter), chances are pretty good that the alternator itself is at fault. Pull it and have it tested.

--DD

[marv914]

thanks i just had it rebuilt last month maybe the did a bad job

[tat2dphreak]

I'll bet it's the same issue as I'm having:

see http://www.914club.com/bbs2/index.php?act=ST&f=5&t=5913&

this was the recommended solution... I haven't gotten around to fixing it yet on mine

[philinjax]

Marv,
Touch the battery lead directly to the starter motor momentarily and see if it cranks the engine. If it doesn't, the starter motor is frozen drawing many amps.
Phil

[lmcchesney]

See if your B+ post is grounded. Recent article in the classics of 914club regarding new rebuilt alternators Bosch AL75X, the B+ washer connects with the back plate creating a short circuit.
http://www.914club.com/bbs2/index.php?act=ST&f=5&t=5913&
Good luck.
L. McC