Selenoid sparking

[66overhaul]

Hi:
I recently (early fall) put in a new wire harness and starter selenoid (plus other things) and everything seemed fine. I then let my 1966 (289) mustang sit through most of the winter. When I went to start it the battery was too weak, so I charged it. When I then went to start it i got a large spark (slmost a flame) from the selenoid, where it is connected to the battery. Each time I start it I now get sparks at that point and the + battery cable is very hot. Any ideas?

Thanks,
66overhaul

 

[Iamdiffrnt]

Sounds to me like either a bad solenoid, a loose connection in the battery cable to the solenoid, or something is getting grounded there.

 

[dennis112]

Sounds to me like either a bad solenoid, a loose connection in the battery cable to the solenoid, or something is getting grounded there.

Agreed.

I would first check the cables and if that didn't do it, replace the solenoid again. Not to insult your intelligence, but are you attaching the + cable to the + on the battery (and vice versa.) Just had to ask.

Another thing you could try is to remove the large wire off the rear of the solenoid (that goes down to the starter) and then turning the key to see what happens in the "start" position. Of course it is not going to start but it might be a better indication of where to look for the problem.

 

[Boss.Hoss.Ross]

x2 for the bad connection at the battery! sparks=bad connection, heat=high resistance=bad connection.

 

[jikelly]

I've experienced that spark before. What caused it was either a bad starter, or the cable that goes down to the starter touching the header.