won't crank, neg battery cable ?'s

Hi all,

trying to troubleshoot a problem with my car. I'm currently deployed to Iraq and left the car with my wife to look after. She IM'd me yesterday saying that the car won't start. After some long distance patience and question I found out the car doesn't even crank.
Previously... she had some trouble starting it because the "battery was dying", so she used a neighbors charger, charged it and got it started. She since let it sit for a couple more weeks and went to start it the other day. Car wouldn't start again, so she put the charger on it again, but this time it didn't start. She sent me a pic because the small negative wire from the battery post "lools like it had been chewed on or something". It's not broken, but looks like it got heated up enough to melt the insulation about 5 inches from the battery terminal. I did some searching here on :SNSign: and came up with this.

jrichker said:

That is correct. It is also the ground for the battery to chassis and is the ground for everything but the starter. On a car, a ground is the return path for electricity to get back to the battery.

The clamp on with 2 bolts battery terminal ends are a know problem causer. Corrosion gets in the clamped joint and works its way up the wire under the insulation. Avoid them like the plague...

Click to expand...

I also have some wiring diagrams saved in my favorites but none of them show two wires (1 small, 1 larger) on the negative terminal. Just wondering where these wires connect and what they could affect to prevent the car from cranking. I need your expertise! What are your thoughts???

Still working this issue: anyone know where the larger negative battery cable attaches to on the engine block? I know it's some where around the oil filter.

My wife was finally able to get the battery out and took it to get tested. It was low on charge but other than that... OK.

I had her turn the key to run and jump the two large posts on the solenoid (w/out telling her what to expect) boy, did I get an earfull when the sparks jumped at her. Anyways, after recomposing herself she tried it again and the car still wouldn't crank.

I'm thinking it's either the battery cables or possibly the clutch safety switch. Does jumping the solenoid bypass the switch? Any thoughts?

thanks Hissin, you're absolutely right. I don't want her working on it (without me), but right now I don't have a choice. She pulled the connectors off the terminals with a pair of pliers, scarring them up. Just ordered a new set of cables. Now if I can get her to find out where the negative cable is connected on the engine block.
I am proud though, that she is out there wrenchin on a stang. in the cold... taking directions from me, 7000 miles away on a crappy phone connection. This should be the ultimate test of a marriage!