Oldsmobile When starting new posts, please specify YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, ENGINE type, and whatever modifications you have made.

1999 Olds 88 3.8 sparking when connecting ground cable to battery

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 25, 2022 | 01:11 PM
  #11  
JeffW2022's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
 
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 53
Likes: 19
JeffW2022 is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by carfixer007
Care to elaborate.
Fiddled around with battery cables a little, next thing I knew, no arcing
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2022 | 02:55 PM
  #12  
carfixer007's Avatar
Senior Member


True Car Nut
 
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 3,239
Likes: 1,597
From: Flint, MI USA
carfixer007 is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by JeffW2022
Fiddled around with battery cables a little, next thing I knew, no arcing
So you hooked the battery cables up the way they should go and now no more problems?
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2022 | 04:20 PM
  #13  
JeffW2022's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
 
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 53
Likes: 19
JeffW2022 is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by carfixer007
So you hooked the battery cables up the way they should go and now no more problems?
I had Neg to Neg, Pos to Pos before. (No I did NOT have things backwards) But the main thing, is that the arcing issue was solved, and that'* all that I was concerned with
Reply
Old Jun 25, 2022 | 05:23 PM
  #14  
carfixer007's Avatar
Senior Member


True Car Nut
 
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 3,239
Likes: 1,597
From: Flint, MI USA
carfixer007 is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by JeffW2022
I had Neg to Neg, Pos to Pos before. (No I did NOT have things backwards) But the main thing, is that the arcing issue was solved, and that'* all that I was concerned with
So nothing changed it just started working. Interesting. Have you thought about being a faith healer?
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2022 | 09:19 AM
  #15  
Mike's Avatar
Retired
Certified Car Nut
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 17,960
Likes: 1,839
From: Dark Side, AZ
Mike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond repute
Default

Playing devils advocate here. I'm wondering about the 'level' of arcing OP is experiencing. Now, I know Carfixer007 and I have connected hundreds of batteries before and have experienced some arcing during connection. Though this is very common. Again, I wonder if the arcing the OP is experiencing is of a normal level, as opposed to arcing one would experience using a 12v battery to use for welding rods.
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2022 | 01:42 PM
  #16  
carfixer007's Avatar
Senior Member


True Car Nut
 
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 3,239
Likes: 1,597
From: Flint, MI USA
carfixer007 is on a distinguished road
Default

I think he had 12V to ground and either doesn't know it or is ashamed to admit it.
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2022 | 02:45 PM
  #17  
Mike's Avatar
Retired
Certified Car Nut
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 17,960
Likes: 1,839
From: Dark Side, AZ
Mike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond reputeMike has a reputation beyond repute
Default

^ That is also a possibility.
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2022 | 09:39 PM
  #18  
JeffW2022's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
 
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 53
Likes: 19
JeffW2022 is on a distinguished road
Wink

Originally Posted by carfixer007
I think he had 12V to ground and either doesn't know it or is ashamed to admit it.
I am NOT that stupid to have connected any cables/wires wrong. Doesn't matter now as the car starts and runs, all accessories work as they should
Reply
Old Jun 27, 2022 | 09:45 PM
  #19  
carfixer007's Avatar
Senior Member


True Car Nut
 
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 3,239
Likes: 1,597
From: Flint, MI USA
carfixer007 is on a distinguished road
Default

Since you do not know what you did to fix it kind of proves my point. You didn't know. That does not mean you are stupid.
Reply
Old Jun 28, 2022 | 09:13 AM
  #20  
JeffW2022's Avatar
Thread Starter
Member
Posts like a V-Tak
 
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 53
Likes: 19
JeffW2022 is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by carfixer007
Since you do not know what you did to fix it kind of proves my point. You didn't know. That does not mean you are stupid.
Sometimes trial and error works quite well when solving a problem. Was checking things under the hood today, and decided to find out where that homemade mystery wire went.... It was connected to this 12V stud in the middle of the maxi fuse center. What it was for, I do not know, but it was a homemade wire not made by me. I removed it so as not to cause any more issues.


Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:48 AM.