Tonight I finished up my head gasket swap. Got everything back together. The battery was low, so I attempted to jump it off. I let it sit for a few minutes charging. When I tryied to turn it over my friend yelled stop because where the oil line was resting against the valve cover was glowing orange. So I checked all over and didnt see anything wrong. And I checked the voltages when the starter is engaged. and there is 12+ volts between the oil line and ground.

Anyone have any sort of Idea of what it may be shorting with?

Thanks

 

what sort of electronics do you have hooked up?? Isnt the block hooked to a ground next to the front headlight?? What did you use as a ground when you were taking your reading??

 

I used a bolt on the frame. Only thing out of the ordinary I have is a Hondata and resistor pack.

 

My only thought is that you're supposed to hook up the charged battery to the positive of the dead and the frame of the car with the dead battery, then turn it over. I'm not sure why just sitting there would make it go crazy, but it's not really what you're supposed to do I'd just hook it up, get it started and then disconnect the good battery. your alternator will charge it. weird.

 

Yeah its weird, But I still cant explain why the valve cover and oil line are arcing

 

Where did you route the oil feed? Does it touch the power wire at the starter? The oil feed should basically be an extension of the block as far as electricity goes, and the block should never be positively charged.

 

It is routed the same way before I did the headgasket job. Around the right side of the engine where the power steering pump is. I does not contact any wire.

 

Is there anything touching the valve cover? Does the starter solenoid click? If the block was also becoming + charged the solenoid wouldn't click and the car wouldn't crank. Unless the block is changing polarity, wherever the line is glowing is the source of the + current. Is the ground for the valve cover attached? What else does the oil line touch? Pics would help.


[Modified by racerxadam, 1:19 AM 9/19/2002]

 

can you hold the oil line away from the valve cover and try to take another reading? sounds like the valve cover is becomming positivley charged, and it has to have something to do with the ignition, I dont think the oil line will glow orange from 12v....maybe the starter.


[Modified by genop, 6:50 AM 9/19/2002]

 

Yeah I'm thinking the starter too, but I dont remember comming in contact with the starter at all. Tomorrow I'll try to take some more voltage readings and see if I can find what it is. I'm stumped as of now. But I know I was getting 12+ across that oil feed line and the only think I know of spiking to 12 v when the ignition is turned is the starter. I'll see tomorrow. If you can think of anything I should check out please let me know.

 

By the way, how would the block change polarity? when I took a couple of readings from the voltage meter it would switch between + and - readings. Where I expected + readings. I dont remember exactly now, I got pissed and downed a few beers.


[Modified by ElectronMan, 7:11 AM 9/19/2002]

 

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Anyone ever heard of an interal short in the starter?

 

You sure it's not hitting the +12v nut at the alternator?

 

I'm pretty sure the line isnt comming in contact with the altenator, but I have yet to look at it today.

Here's a pic of my engine bay, a few weeks ago:

 

Problem solved, turned out to be a bad ground at the tranny. Now I have to work out an overheating issue.

Thanks for the help.