HELP...hot battery terminal melting wire insulation

amish710 · Sat, Jul-31-2010, 06:06:55 PM

So looks like the big cable is actually a little melted also. I'm going to have both cables fully changed out next week and hopefully that solves the issue. thanks for all the input

E46M3FF · Thu, Nov-25-2010, 05:17:47 PM

Ok I have this same problem too. How I notice this is that my battery will drain after seating for 24 hours. I testest the current draw and saw I have short and I was able to find the prob. It was my DVD rom. But when I was doing that I saw the fat cable that is at the battery terminal was a bit melted right at terminal and the car didn't want to start and my cap for my amp wasn't reading voltage. I was WTF cause my voltmeter showed the batt had 12.1 volts. Then by accident I touched the fat wire and the cap then turned on and showed the voltage. And almost everymorning I have to wiggle the fat wire and the car will turn on and when I get to where I have to go true wire is hot tithe touch. So this morning I disconnected and I saw where the wire connects to the terminal was lose. So on the drive home tonight I will see if it still heats up. Has anyone fixed this issue and how. Sry to ask but the op didn't say I'd he fixed the problem.

Gregs///M · Thu, Nov-25-2010, 06:15:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E46M3FF

Ok I have this same problem too. How I notice this is that my battery will drain after seating for 24 hours. I testest the current draw and saw I have short and I was able to find the prob. It was my DVD rom. But when I was doing that I saw the fat cable that is at the battery terminal was a bit melted right at terminal and the car didn't want to start and my cap for my amp wasn't reading voltage. I was WTF cause my voltmeter showed the batt had 12.1 volts. Then by accident I touched the fat wire and the cap then turned on and showed the voltage. And almost everymorning I have to wiggle the fat wire and the car will turn on and when I get to where I have to go true wire is hot tithe touch. So this morning I disconnected and I saw where the wire connects to the terminal was lose. So on the drive home tonight I will see if it still heats up. Has anyone fixed this issue and how. Sry to ask but the op didn't say I'd he fixed the problem.

Sounds like you just need to tighten your connections at the battery. Remove both connections, scrub both the cable ends and battery terminals real well. Then drive the cable connector all the way down the battery terminal and tighten down hard.

E46M3FF · Sat, Nov-27-2010, 12:08:28 AM

so the problem was a lose cable to the battery terminal coupler. now my car starts fine and the cable is warm but not hot to the touch.

devilbones · Fri, Feb-24-2012, 11:16:12 AM

I am having this problem now too. My positive battery cable is melted. I am going to remove the DICE unit and then have the cable replaced. Any other suggestions?

cncmastr · Fri, Feb-24-2012, 01:09:03 PM

I had this problem and it brought it to the dealer to repair, it cost me $1800. New battery, new cable, new alternator and they had to pull up the interior to get at it.

Funny story - I charged the car over night, left my house in Toms river, and drove up to Freehold to the stealership there (douche bags). I was about .2 of a mile away and the car starting acting odd, the dash board lights came on and as soon as I pulled in to the dealer lot, the car literally died right as I stopped in front garage for the service bay. My battery ran the car the entire way there!

cncmastr · Fri, Feb-24-2012, 01:11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmannino

It really only takes a qualified or experience electrician to solder a new terminal at the end of the cable. Replacing the cable is unnecessary unless there is damaged in along the length of the cable.

If you were local to the SF Bay Area, I'd help ya out.

My cable was melted all the way through, not just the end terminal.

devilbones · Thu, Mar-22-2012, 06:23:29 PM

Should the positive terminal be hot to the touch at all? Mine is hot but not enough to burn through anything.

Gregs///M · Thu, Mar-22-2012, 09:00:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devilbones

Should the positive terminal be hot to the touch at all? Mine is hot but not enough to burn through anything.

Only after driving for a while, if you cannot hold your hand on it, something is wrong, which is probably the ground circuit leading back to battery.

devilbones · Thu, Mar-22-2012, 10:19:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmannino

Only after driving for a while, if you cannot hold your hand on it, something is wrong, which is probably the ground circuit leading back to battery.

I drive about an hour to work. When I get there its hot, but not enough to melt something. I can keep my hand on it. I am going to get it checked anyway next week. There is going to be a current test, is there some other test that needs to be done?

Fri, Feb-24-2012, 11:16:12 AM	#35
devilbones Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 588 In the garage: '06 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Langley Falls, VA	Re: HELP...hot battery terminal melting wire insulation I am having this problem now too. My positive battery cable is melted. I am going to remove the DICE unit and then have the cable replaced. Any other suggestions?

Fri, Feb-24-2012, 01:09:03 PM	#36
cncmastr M-Texture Alcantara Join Date: Aug 2003 Age: 31 Posts: 1,066 In the garage: '06 BMW X5 4.8is '06 BMW M3 '91 BMW 318 Reputation: 0 Location: Toms River, NJ	Re: HELP...hot battery terminal melting wire insulation I had this problem and it brought it to the dealer to repair, it cost me $1800. New battery, new cable, new alternator and they had to pull up the interior to get at it. Funny story - I charged the car over night, left my house in Toms river, and drove up to Freehold to the stealership there (douche bags). I was about .2 of a mile away and the car starting acting odd, the dash board lights came on and as soon as I pulled in to the dealer lot, the car literally died right as I stopped in front garage for the service bay. My battery ran the car the entire way there! __________________ 2006 Interlagos Blue BMW ///M3 \| ZCP \| Xenon \| Nav \| Premium \| M Texture Alcantara \| Euro Headers & Cats \| Evolve R Tune \| CSL Airbox Collection of my DIY Guides here

Thu, Mar-22-2012, 06:23:29 PM	#38
devilbones Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 588 In the garage: '06 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Langley Falls, VA	Re: HELP...hot battery terminal melting wire insulation Should the positive terminal be hot to the touch at all? Mine is hot but not enough to burn through anything.

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Sat, Jul-31-2010, 06:06:55 PM	#31
amish710 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 57 Reputation: 0	So looks like the big cable is actually a little melted also. I'm going to have both cables fully changed out next week and hopefully that solves the issue. thanks for all the input

Thu, Nov-25-2010, 05:17:47 PM	#32
E46M3FF Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 270 In the garage: '03 BMW E46 M3 Reputation: 0 Location: 562	Ok I have this same problem too. How I notice this is that my battery will drain after seating for 24 hours. I testest the current draw and saw I have short and I was able to find the prob. It was my DVD rom. But when I was doing that I saw the fat cable that is at the battery terminal was a bit melted right at terminal and the car didn't want to start and my cap for my amp wasn't reading voltage. I was WTF cause my voltmeter showed the batt had 12.1 volts. Then by accident I touched the fat wire and the cap then turned on and showed the voltage. And almost everymorning I have to wiggle the fat wire and the car will turn on and when I get to where I have to go true wire is hot tithe touch. So this morning I disconnected and I saw where the wire connects to the terminal was lose. So on the drive home tonight I will see if it still heats up. Has anyone fixed this issue and how. Sry to ask but the op didn't say I'd he fixed the problem.

Sat, Nov-27-2010, 12:08:28 AM	#34
E46M3FF Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 270 In the garage: '03 BMW E46 M3 Reputation: 0 Location: 562	so the problem was a lose cable to the battery terminal coupler. now my car starts fine and the cable is warm but not hot to the touch.