Battery cables get hot when cranking. You want all connections clean, bright, and tight.
Battery cables get hot when cranking. In this article, we’ll take a look at why battery cables get hot and the car won’t start and how to fix it. This issue can be exacerbated when the battery is trying to start, leading to high power usage. Mar 5, 2023 · Reason 2. Modern batteries usually have a high cold cranking amperage available to start the engine. Could this be the starter or in need of a new positive cable? I just stopped trying to start it once I realized the battery got hot and because it was having a hard time cranking over, it seemed sluggish. If the cable itself is damaged or worn out, it should be replaced. To address the problem of a hot positive battery cable, it is important to inspect and clean the battery terminals regularly. If you have a bad connection on either the positive or negative cables the one with the bad connection will get hot when trying to carry current while cranking the engine. Jan 12, 2018 · I've checked the fuses under the hood numbers 9 and 22 and they were fine. Bad starter and alternator overcharging will put unnecessary stress on the battery, causing terminals to get hot. com Apr 25, 2025 · In our experience, battery cables become excessively hot mainly due to either a restriction in the electrical system or an excessive demand for current. Jul 28, 2025 · A hot positive battery cable signals a serious issue—often due to excessive resistance, corrosion, or electrical overload. Sep 7, 2022 · The positive battery cable is the cable that provides power from the battery to the starter. You could also have a starter that is drawing excessive amount of current and that too Feb 19, 2011 · So it sounds like the starter. I towed it home and unhooked battery and started looking around. Anyways, I checked the battery and the positive terminal got very hot. I've also noticed something smoking down below the serpentine belt as well while cranking. See full list on surgeaccelerator. 8 and 13 volts before cranking. Why Is My Negative Battery Cable Getting Hot? A car’s Negative battery cables can get hot because of a loose connection, damage, corrosion, wrong cable size and bad quality cable. Jun 7, 2010 · Your cables could be getting hot for a couple of reasons. Feb 22, 2023 · It’s very annoying when turning the key, and realizing that it won’t start. The most common problem is that the engine will not start. I do notice my positive battery terminals getting extremely warm and smoking. As an automotive electrical expert, I’ll reveal why this happens, the hidden risks, and how to resolve it before costly damage occurs. A bad battery Another common cause of a car that won’t easily restart when hot, is a bad battery. Dec 13, 2013 · It was fully charged. Can someone please give me some advice? Do car battery terminals get hot? Car battery terminals do get hot in abnormal situations where loose connection, corrosion buildup, and incorrect cable size create resistance. If they're getting hot quickly, either your starter is drawing too many amps, or there's a bad connection. Mechanic's Assistant: Have you tested the battery with a voltmeter? Also, can you check if it’s leaking? Customer: I tested the battery with a multimeter, and it shows between 12. Both of which can prevent the engine from starting. You want all connections clean, bright, and tight. truck starts fine except when it is hot. As an automotive electrical expert, I’ll reveal why this happens and how to fix it before permanent damage occurs. Had an issue where my lawnmower battery terminals were getting extremely hot and as a result, the battery would lose charge. Bad connections build resistance and resistance to current flow builds heat. Jul 23, 2025 · Yes, hot battery cables signal a serious issue—often due to excessive resistance, loose connections, or electrical overload. 6 volts and load tested, and both batt cables cleaned at both ends. If this cable gets hot, it can cause a number of problems. If however, the battery is not charging properly when the vehicle is driven, then Customer: The positive battery terminal and cables become very hot when cranking, and the battery voltage drops to about 8 volts. As an expert in automotive electrical systems, I’ll reveal why this happens and how to fix it before permanent damage occurs. Aug 27, 2013 · Assuming battery is fully charged, 12. I'm pretty sure it's the insulation on my positive cables melting. Many assume a warm cable is normal, but intense heat indicates dangerous inefficiencies that can lead to battery failure, melted wires, or even Jul 23, 2025 · If your negative battery cable is hot to the touch, yes, this indicates a serious problem —one that demands immediate attention. cranks like the battery is dead and both cables get hot, they only get hot when cranking. If you notice that the battery cables are hot to the touch, it’s a sign that something is wrong. Remove dust cover if present so that you can see the starter pinion gear. May 8, 2017 · I also thought, maybe battery terminals on battery were loose a bit, so I went to wiggle the negative cable and it was hotter than heck, got a nice finger burn/possibly a shock. In extreme cases, the heat can even cause the terminals on a lead-acid battery to melt. Put the car up on ramps or stands, and connect a remote start button between the S terminal and the pos batt terminal on the solenoid. Obviously, something is going on. Trans in neutral or park, and coil wire disconnected. Crawl under the car, and . There is usually enough power in a fully charged battery to restart a car multiple times without recharging it. May 28, 2023 · Battery cables get hot primarily due to loose connections, which cause resistance and generate heat. Many assume a warm cable is normal, but excessive heat signals dangerous resistance, poor connections, or even a failing battery May 30, 2018 · The cables will get hot with emough cranking. Ensure that the connections are tight and free from corrosion. qfrl 7lfvf xgoj tmabz lwlyic 817 4dfnag vqlejw pppw zmi