1984 Chevy 454, electrical

[BAKEDIDDY]

Ok, here’s the quick story. First off this is a motor home that I am having the trouble with. It’s not a “motor home” problem, just a “chevy truck” problem. This past weekend after it was hot it wouldn’t start, it was acting as if the timing was off. Upon further investigation I noticed that the stud out of the starter where the main power wire is connected was loose. I was able to wiggle that enough to get it fired up. I figured just to be safe I would put a new starter in it and be done.

Well, that’s when I really started having problems. Now that the new starter is in it turns over very slow and acts as if the battery is dead, but it’s not, even when I try to jump it I get the same thing.

There is a ground wire that is getting very hot and smoking, from the best of my tracing it appears that the smoking wire goes from a point of the chassis, where the ground wire on the battery connects to the frame. It then routes to the alternator bracket, with one other wire. This wire has gotten so hot that it’s melted through the electrical tape that’s wrapped around it with some other wires.

Any ideas on how to diagnose this?

[thek5blazerman]

I had the same kind of problem with my truck. Check the ground cable coming from the engine. it should be a fairly large guage wire. i put an engine ground strap on mine from the exhaust to frame with good connections and everything worked fine.

[BAKEDIDDY]

Thanks, that was it! The braided ground wire from the left rear of the block, to the frame was no making good contact, and the starter was bad!!!! Just my luck!

Thanks again k5blazerman.