Popular Post RowdyRebel Posted January 17, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 17, 2015 Had to run to town this morning, but the F250 was dead. No biggie, I'll have 'er jumped in about 2 minutes. Fire up the ol' Ranger and pop both hoods. Grab the cables, and hook 'em up. + to +, - to -. Got a few sparks when I made the last connection, so I figure everything is good. Ammeter in the Ranger is showing around 14-15...normal. F250 still dead. Not even the dome light is on. So, I check the connections...all 4 ends spark a little when I'm jiggling them making sure the clamps are biting into the lead terminal ends for a good connection. Then the Ranger dies. Try firing it back up, and the solenoid clicks a few times like it has a weak battery. So I decide to disconnect the jumper cables and SONUVABITCH that MFer is HOT! Grab a pair of gloves from the truck, and disconnect the cables. The rubber coating on the clamps has melted and is sticking to the gloves. The metal clamps look like sheet metal on a car that just burned up. Anyway, now I'm REALLY running late...supposed to meet the Ferrier by the wife's horses at 7:30, and here it was quarter after 7 and I need to pull this battery before I head to town. Got everything done I needed to, Sears swapped out the battery for a new one free of charge (it was only a couple months old)...still PO'd about my jumper cables, though. 4 gauge, 20' long...had 'em for probably, well, let's just say a whole lotta years by now...first set I ever bought. At the very least, they'll need new ends. Might try to remember where I saw those 2 gauge, 25' long cables to put in the Mack so I can move the 4 gauge, 20' cables in the side box into the F250. 4 gauge/20' is the smallest jumper cable I'll buy. Lighter/shorter cables are useless... 3 Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/38487-burned-up-my-jumper-cables-today/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearhead204 Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 nothing like a shorted battery to make one's day! had one of the guys I used to work with had a late 80's f150 and the batt would be drained about every other day so he brought it over for me to play with as we were b,s.ing with the rig shut off all of the sudden the fuel pump started running , well long story short the fuel pump relay was bad ..... I can understand why he was going nuts trying to find the problem. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/38487-burned-up-my-jumper-cables-today/#findComment-274814 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladislav Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 If jumper cables went so hot to melt it means something is too wrong in the vehicle you put them to. Probably short circuit battery or something else in the vehicle such as starter, generator or any power wires. Too probably the same reason the battery came dead. You shouldn't continue jumping unless find the issue. Might turn out as a fire also.Couple of years ago one of my customers told me sad story.He had Pontiac Trans Sport van. It was parked near the house in the street.Once he came in the street from his appartment in the morning and found out his van totally burned off. He was too surprized because his windows were on the other side of the bilding he lived in. The matter was there was the other car parked next to his one and it had the starter motor switched on by some reason.It was parked in 1st gear (stick) and it's starter moved it forward until it hit Pontiac. Than the starter heated over and the car fired up.Both vehicles were burned totally together. 1 Quote Никогда не бывает слишком много грузовиков! leversole 11.2012 Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/38487-burned-up-my-jumper-cables-today/#findComment-274825 Share on other sites More sharing options...
1957B61Vt Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 How is the ranger?Alternator survived ?I had similar situation once With shorted battery Next day had to put new alternator onVehicle I was jumping off from but it seemed fine After incident . Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/38487-burned-up-my-jumper-cables-today/#findComment-274828 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatcity Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Ford and Ford-any questions?Sorry you lost some good old cablesWifes horses are her problems. You need to take care of the MACK FIRST!!! Quote Success is only a stones throw away.................................................................for a Palestinian Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/38487-burned-up-my-jumper-cables-today/#findComment-274870 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted January 18, 2015 Author Share Posted January 18, 2015 Changed the fuel filters (skipped them last oil change...time crunch, late, and had to roll out). Also swapped an air valve that's been leaking, and a rubber pancake in a brake chamber that had been leaking every time I stepped on the brakes. Welded up a mudflap bracket that was ripped off the back of the trailer on Friday, and now I'm going to put a new water pump on. The left side kingpin and steer tires will have to wait, because i'm running out of daylight. Yeah, I'm just doing the one side. Did the other side last May and just haven't got a round tuit yet. Never seem to have enough time to get EVERYTHING done, so I try to do the worst stuff first and if it ain't broke, it can wait. I need an indoor shop...with heat...and somebody to do all my running around for me. 1 Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/38487-burned-up-my-jumper-cables-today/#findComment-274889 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatcity Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 had to do my water pump over Christmas weekend. Glad to find a shop to remove pulley and press on new pump.That took the most time Quote Success is only a stones throw away.................................................................for a Palestinian Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/38487-burned-up-my-jumper-cables-today/#findComment-274891 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 This pump already had the pulley on it...makes the job much easier. Can't finish up 'til tomorrow, though. Busted the damn 45 degree fitting that screws into the water pump that a small line connects to. That and while I was laying under the truck looking up waiting for the coolant to drain, I noticed I need to pick up a band clamp for a turbo hose. It's still holding tight, but the nut & spring are missing. Fun. Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/38487-burned-up-my-jumper-cables-today/#findComment-274945 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatcity Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 The line to the air compressor? That's a PIA to get at. Mine ended up cross threaded. Went to NAPA and got a two piece replacement Quote Success is only a stones throw away.................................................................for a Palestinian Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/38487-burned-up-my-jumper-cables-today/#findComment-274970 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyRebel Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 The line didn't break, only the 45 degree fitting that has the pipe threads on one side that screw into the water pump and the compression fitting on the other side that the line connects to. 1 Quote When approaching a 4-way stop, the vehicle with the biggest tires has the right of way! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/38487-burned-up-my-jumper-cables-today/#findComment-274997 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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