tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1406088964942152547.post8297394741410696384..comments2024-03-28T21:31:47.191-04:00Comments on The Abode of McThag: Smoke From The StarterAngus McThaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09295013525738248801noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1406088964942152547.post-8361545463186485632016-09-16T11:17:24.439-04:002016-09-16T11:17:24.439-04:00Yep, that's baked...Yep, that's baked...<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1406088964942152547.post-18048794551710194062016-09-16T10:45:34.170-04:002016-09-16T10:45:34.170-04:00What you are looking at in the starter picture is ...What you are looking at in the starter picture is the "fuse" blowing, such as it is. Every time I've seen a solenoid hard ground, the solenoid comes apart before the fire starts. The bakelite like material on the back of the thing turns all powdery when the wiring gets hot enough, before it goes molten. It's probably amazing I could still start it!<br /><br />The back of the starter has a fuseable link, but that won't help if the solenoid grounds.<br /><br />I've seen cars where that fire happened though!. As you say, "bad things". Old Mopars seemed particularly vulnerable once the owners had "fixed" the fuseable links that were merely doing their intended job.<br /><br />However, I've been wrenching on hot rods for decades and a wire straight from the battery to the back of the starter solenoid is the norm. I guess we should be amazed more fires don't happen!Angus McThaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09295013525738248801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1406088964942152547.post-89127412895340591102016-09-16T10:14:09.691-04:002016-09-16T10:14:09.691-04:00Let me make sure I understand something. You said...Let me make sure I understand something. You said, "On my Vette the positive lead goes from the battery in two branches. One goes to the underhood fuse and power distribution center, the other goes to the starter and then to the alternator."<br /><br />I read that as the wire (which at this point is about the diameter of your finger or thumb) leaves the positive terminal and divides in two wires of smaller diameter or has a splice of the same size. One side is fused and the other isn't fused at all? <br /><br />If that's the case, you're lucky that's all that happened. Should that solenoid develop a hard short to ground, that's a direct connection to the battery and that battery will deliver enough current to melt that wire. Red hot, dripping, molten copper. Bad Things will happen, up to and including setting fire to the car and everything near it. <br /><br />Is that right? <br />SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.com