Wrong positive battery cable terminal in engine bay

[Ryan S.]

A few weeks ago, I accidently drained my battery and had to perform a jump start procedure. To my surprise, positive battery cable terminal in engine bay was not positive at all. It sparked and cable got very hot when connected. It was definitely grounded when tested. I am guessing that PO connected this wrong when he replaced battery or alternator (specialT brand).

Is this terminal directly connected to the battery? I planned to make it right this weekend. Any word of advice or anything I should watch out for before I start reconnecting cables and wires?

thank you

[Ron]

Electrically it goes directly to the battery...
See exploded view here (#21) (http://store.delorean.com/c-339-3-1-0-battery.aspx)

Double check connections at the battery end if it has been out lately....

[WelmoedJ]

A few weeks ago, I accidently drained my battery and had to perform a jump start procedure. To my surprise, positive battery cable terminal in engine bay was not positive at all. It sparked and cable got very hot when connected. It was definitely grounded when tested. I am guessing that PO connected this wrong when he replaced battery or alternator (specialT brand).

Is this terminal directly connected to the battery? I planned to make it right this weekend. Any word of advice or anything I should watch out for before I start reconnecting cables and wires?

thank you

How did you perform the jump start procedure?
Use another battery or another car.
If you used another car, was this car British?
A lot of oldtimer British cars have a positive ground.
Using that car for jump start causes the other car's connections to heat up and eventually fry your electrical system.

[Ryan S.]

Ron
thanks for the link. I need to figure out where it's connected. It wasn't in the battery compartment so I assume that it's somewhere under the car.

Wellmoedj, Engine terminal sparked and got very hot. So I used a very long cable and directly connected to the positive terminal of the battery to jump start the car.

[Ron]

I can't think of why anyone would wire it that way...you are talking about this post, right?
And you are certain the battery terminals are not swapped at the battery?

21108

[Ryan S.]

Yes, that is correct. That's the terminal that I tried to use for jump start. My battery's positive terminal is connected to a red cable. I will take some photos today.
when I tested that jump start terminal, it was grounded.
I am thinking that I need to find the location for #18 (from part diagram) to see if the cable is connected right.

[Bitsyncmaster]

The battery red wire goes directly to the starter. Then on that starter terminal is the jump start wire and a group of brown wires in the stock configuration.

[Ryan S.]

Ok. I finally got a chance to lift the car and see how my positive battery terminal cable is connected. It (dirty looking red cable) is attached to the transmission housing!!! No wonder it sparked when I attached positive jumper cable. I am not sure where I should connect this cable to. Starter motor terminal has dual connection - one (cleaner red cable) goes to battery and the other one is the black electrical cable that goes over the engine. Do I try to connect positive terminal cable with the battery cable at the starter? I wish there were some reference photos.
thank you in advance for any advises and recommendations.



http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7342/9703823263_c14f4a5d82.jpg http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3782/9703815143_629dd075f7.jpg http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5451/9703810285_3ac57725ae.jpg http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3666/9707042064_cf8bc23b1b.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7433/9707048444_b01668f0b9.jpg

[Ron]

You got it... Remove the big red one from the transmission and put it on the starter main terminal, along with the existing big red battery wire and three browns.

[DMCMW Dave]

I'll have to say this is one of the dumbest Prior Owner modifications I've ever seen.

[Ryan S.]

Ron,
Thanks for your reply.
So I need to connect this jump start lead to

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3666/9707042064_cf8bc23b1b.jpg

to here (behind battery POS cable boot), right? I didn't really look at that black electrical taped wire but I assume that is the three brown wires. Thank you.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5451/9703810285_3ac57725ae.jpg

[Ron]

Yes, as in this link:
http://www.specialtauto.com/delorean-parts/images/solenoid-back-wiring.jpg

[Ryan S.]

Yes, as in this link:
http://www.specialtauto.com/delorean-parts/images/solenoid-back-wiring.jpg

Thank you!!!!

[Bitsyncmaster]

I'll have to say this is one of the dumbest Prior Owner modifications I've ever seen.

+1
I guess the PO got fed up trying to get those three terminals onto the starter lug. But why not just remove the jump wire?

[Josh]

Guys, its a special grounding strap to ground the fiberglass body. It is special, so it is red. haha.

That is saying a lot of dave says this is the dumbest thing he has ever seen! :O


To confirm the OP's question, yes, the cable needs to be attached where the main battery power bolts to the alt.