POS battery wire arched and caught FIRE!!!

[Dkfiii88manche]

Ok so my little brother finally finished up all my brake's issues I was having today. He also put my brown dog mounts in the other day too. Well we took her out for her maiden voyage tonight we were cruising for a while and my bro turns to me and says my battery light came on then went off 10 min later it did it again. We got off the exit to get gas and click the whole truck shuts down I mean everything. I get it into a parking lot my bro jumps out says pop the hood and the positive battery cable that goes down to the starter was sitting against the try and it was on FIRE!!! My bro got it out and disconcerted the battery. We let it sit a few min my brother had to rip the wire off the tray and then he hooked the battery back up. I got in the truck and it started right up but I noticed the gas gauge skyrocket all the way past the full line and beyond then I pulled my headlight switch and the truck shut off I started it back up and the truck stayed running but wants to die out when the lights are on and there is barley any power getting to the headlights and tail lights it's like it's 2 volts going to them. But yet the truck still runs I need some help here guts I'm stuck at a Mcdonalds parking lot and I don't kno where to go from here what could be fried or shorted PLEASE HELP!!!!

[Jeep Driver]

Walmart near by?

 

If so, go buy a battery that will get you home.

 

Or borrow a battery that will get you home.

 

 

You probably fried your alt and fused links and maybe a couple of other things.

[Jeep Driver]

When  you sort  it out-

 

Copper lugs SOLDERED to NEW cables.

 

Brass connectors and battery secured with hold-downs.

 

Also note, gel battery on side, makes it impossible to short out on hood.

 

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[Pete M]

had a similar cable fire in my 88.  turned out that the alt had shorted internally (or some such thing, it was a while ago).  it sucked, that's for sure.

[cruiser54]

Positive cable didn't rub through on a new motor mount/bracket, did it? 

[Dkfiii88manche]

I'm sure some of the fuse able links like u said ars fried the actual positive cable where it arched on the battery try a bunch of the strands are broken in it. And the truck still starts right up with plenty of juice. And the lights still work they are just really faint and almost non existent. When the truck Is idling and I turn the lights on the idle drops and the truck almost wants to shut off. I had my jump box in thd back and I didn't even need it. I dono if this tells u guys anything else or not. And I need daylight to look at it the right way. It still drives so I'm gonna get up early and go get the truck and drive it a quarter mile away to advanced and have the battery and ALT tested while I'm at it. Does anyone kno if you can buy a new positive cable that goes from the battery to the starter or am I gonna have to make one

[Keyav8r]

Advance should have a cable in stock you can use. Pull your old one off and match up the length. May have to get one a little longer, which would give you more flexibility in how you route it between the battery and starter (keeping it away from sharp edges).

[Dkfiii88manche]

[cruiser54]

All the more reason to do Post 1 in my Tips.