ok so i traded my ef hatch for a crx with b16 swap, tucked bay, yadda yadda yadda.. i get it home and i replace the plugs and the fuel filter. i was having issues getting the screw to go back into the filter clamp and my elbow touched the wires on the starter and something arched and started smoking. then i hear a smoldering noise and smoke is coming out of the car...when it arched it melted the wire and fried the battery, which is what was smoking. i pulled all the carpet up to trace how they ran the battery wire to find out that they used a really thick guage wirefrom the starter till about the passenger seat and then connected a smaller amp wire thats about half the size... and the amp wire is the only part of the wire that had melted...

i have two questions..
one being what could have arched? there are 2 wires that are connected. 1 to the battery and one to the fuse box and theyr both connected to the bolt on the starter.

and the second is could it just have been the fact that the wire was too small and maybe its been happening over time and just decided to take a dump when i got it? or wuold it not matter about the difference in the size of the wire?

thanks for the help in advance

 

What wires touched? Are there actually two wires going to the starter or is it that one is connected to the other. I believe that it was because the wire was small it fried. Size matter when your relocating the battery, you'll need bigger gauge wire the farther it is from the fuse box. You should put a circuit breaker or a fuse holder with 70amp fuse.

 

i think they hallf assed it.. u know how theres the smaller wire that runs from the fuse box to the starter and then the other from the battery to the starter and has the hole connector which u slide over the bolt on the starter n hold it with a nut? well they have bother wires ran like that. nothing blew in the fuse box, just the smaller wire fried and battery overheated and smoked like it was on fire

 

I think it was just unlucky that you touched them, and i would replaced the wire from the starter to the battery and put a fuse or circuit breaker in between the wire from the battery, so next time it'll just pop the fuse or pop the circuit breaker and limit the chance of an electrical fire.

 

good idea.. i popped the hatch to get the smoke out n accidently inhaled a little.. biiig mistake lol.. wil fix tomorrow.. just wanted to get an opinion thanks

 

If your going to get a circuit breaker, be sure its not too big 70-80amp will do just fine, anything bigger, can still result in a friend wire, and same goes with the fuse if you decide to use that.