I just had the fuse short out my battery cable (positive). It's litterally melted the red terminal cap as well.

My local Mitsu dealer ordered me a cable for $170 (yes, that's right), and I'm debating on how hard it would be to install this battery cable myself?

I haven't had a chance to look under the hood here recently, but how hard would it be? They quoted me 2 hours to do the job...

Anyone have any insight, or pictures to help with the install, or should I take it to the dealer? The only reason I'm questioning taking it to the dealer, is

1) my battery is almost dead because it's not allowing it to charge. I can barely get the car to start, and on the way home from work it spit out the cd from my cd player/lights are coming on, on the dash, windshield washers move REALLY slow/etc.... Obviously it's about to take a crap.
2) Possible fire.
3) Don't want to have it towed if possible ($$$$)
4) I wouldn't have to worry about driving/towing my car there, and I could possibly do it in my garage.

Any help/advice would be much appreciated!



EDIT: if a mod wants to move it to general, thats fine.

 

Sounds like Alternator going bad or either Alternator relay is crapping out on you. Get both checked or it'll do it again...

 

Thanks for the input, but I already have determined what the problem is. It's not the altenator either.

 

you have to find out why the fuse blew and melted the cable? usally a direct short will be the only thing to cause that, could be alternator( I think its internally regualted could be wrong)

the lights coming on and cd spitting out is because everything is getting litte bits of power from the battery and alternator, if there is a short, it must be hitting on and off causing erratic electrical problems.

Cable goes to from the battery to starter, there will also be wire on the starter from the alternator and starting circuits.

Just take your time and follow the cable behind the engine, shouldnt be real hard.

 

Thanks for the advice. I took it to one shop, figuring it was just the battery at first. They actually tested the battery, and it was fine, but it wasn't charging. When the moved the cable a tad, it would start to charge. So I'd have to assume its not the altenator...

We tried to ghetto rig a tie wrap to hold the battery cable in a different position. When you'd move the cable in a dif position, the battery would actually start to charge, and the dash light for the battery would turn off. When you'd move it though, then the cable would start to spark and slowly burn. Obviously that wasn't a good thing.

Unfortunately, I tried to drive my car last night about 3 miles to my local Mitsu dealer to drop it off for my service scheduled for friday. I made it about half way there, then the battery was almost outta juice. I shut it off, and had it towed the rest of the way


Like I said previously, the Red cap for the positive terminal was cut almost in half by the previous owner; assuming he had a stereo system installed. This left part of the terminal exposed.

It just seems strange to me, that all this happened after 2 hours of "beating" on my car in a snowy parking lot, hitting oil temps of 240ish and while it was snowing. Water/snow touching that positive terminal would do nothing then? I'm not electrical expert, but I'd find it hard to believe it wouldn't do anything?


I'll see what they say tommorrow after I pick it up. Any other comments would be appreciated though.

Thanks

 

the snow and water would have nothing to do with the problem unless it is shorted to a piece of metal on the car. When you got hte temps up it could of melted the sheathing on the cable and shorted it.

When you move the cable it starts to charge would tell me the cable is definately almost melted through somewhere and is shorting out. If you havent done any mods they should cover it.