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MG MGA - starter cable problem

Obtained a new starter cable. Ran it from the dashboard thru the fire wall and attached it to the starter switch. Connected the battery cables and smelled smoke and found my starter cable smoking. It broke at what appears to be the location in which it passed thru the fire wall. there was no grommet at this location. Any ideas why and if it was a short why is the starter cable encased in a metal covering. Should I insulate the cable?

michael dvorkin
michael dvorkin

There should be no voltage on the pull cable or its housing. Possibly it is routed so as to touch the hot wire from the battery. I can't think of much else that would do this, except for a bad starter switch that had an internal short from the battery hot wire to the plunger that the pull cable connects to, and I don't even know if an internal short like this is possible.



Jeff Schultz

The cable should go through a grommet--but it shouldn't be "hot" to begin with. Check your starter switch to make sure that it's not shorting to the cable. The cable I bought was considerably too long and had to be cut to size. If your cable is too long it may be shorting against the fuse block--a regulator terminal or any other fitting under the hood or dash on that side. A close look may yeild your answer.
R. L Carleen

Michael, The starter cable should not need insulating. Somehow you are getting electrical power into the starter cable. Disconnect the starter cable from the starter switch. Do you have a voltmeter?? If so, measure between the body of the starter switch ( not one of the terminals, or one of the battery cables ) and a ground. If you have 12 volts ( or any signifigant voltage ) there, the starter switch is shorting out internally. On second thought, check to make sure that the starter cable is not touching one of the electrical cables. And also check to make sure that the elecrical cables are not touching any part of the starter switch except the electrical terminals..check the terminals on the starter switch to make sure that there is no connection between them and the starter body.
let us know what you find.
/ good luck--- gil
gil

This sounds like a faulty starter switch with an internal short from the hot battery cable connector to the pull cable spindle. The spindle should have an internal insulator, so it should never be electrically live.
Barney Gaylord

As always, you guys were right on the money. Because of excess cable length, the cable was touching the fuse box and caused the short. Shortened the cable and it works like a charm.
Thanks,
Michael
michael dvorkin

This thread was discussed between 03/10/2005 and 07/10/2005

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