Smoke from ground wire...

[kiwiqc]

Ok... sorry in advance for my english... :eeks1: I got a problem here and im not sure what to do... I install a "new" main engine harness and everything goes fine... i recharged the battery and installed everything... after that, i shut off the security system on the door (with the key), i started the engine, give some gas and then smoke came from the ground wire attach to the firewall...
the engine died on that... i start again, same thing... after that, i only put the key at start and the smoke continue to come from the same wire.... it became really hot.. the battery was almost dead i know.. it doesnt come from there....... i took of the ground, measure the ohm (0.2) clean it, put it back freshly clean and it did the same...

now im lost :helpme: what i have to do to solve this problem? the engine die by himself unless i give him some gas... and the smoke...

I have a XJ 91 limited HO ...

 

[hanaxj87]

It sounds like a short . You wired in a new harness? Check all your wire connections, Iam thinking you may have wired something wrong. Good Luck

 

[kiwiqc]

the harness come from another xj limited 91 ho... same same jeep

is it possible that it came from the starter / alternator ? because the smoke only come after i hit the start with the key... if it stay on then nothing... only when i crank the engine...

 

[RichP]

You forgot to connect the main ground wire, resulted in ground taking the next path thru the smaller 12ga. Had that happen on more cars than I care to remember. The starter usually cooks it first though, at least on some of my other stuff.

 

[kiwiqc]

the main ground from the battery is connected.. one to the engine and one to the body... does the same thing smoke come from the same wire all the time

 

[Hugh]

If you disconnect that smokin wire from the firewall & start the vehicle, what happens? Does it run? If it starts & runs leave it unhooked. If not trace the wire & find out where its coming from.

 

[dave92cherokee]

For the ground also check the braided ground strap that is going from the back of the engine block to the firewall and make sure that it's tight.

 

[Shorty]

the main ground from the battery is connected.. one to the engine and one to the body... does the same thing smoke come from the same wire all the time

check/replace it anyway-- they build resistance from the inside out. It sounds as though even if it's connected, it's not providing a quality path to ground and the ancilary ground is flowing more power than it is designed to flow.

do not disconnect the ancilary ground and try to start it-- any other ground straps will be worked even harder in that case and may cook as well.:flame:

 

[kiwiqc]

ok! what i done so far is take off all the ground, clean it and clean where it goes and try again... same result... after that i tried to start the jeep without the ground that is attach to the engine/firewall (the one that smoke)... nothing happened... so now im going to change the ground from the battery for a new one just to see and in the same time change the engine/firewall ground... wish its gonna be ok...

thx for all your advice guys! This forum rocks with all your knowledge shared !

 

[kiwiqc]

ok.. heres an update... I change my ground wire that goes from the engine to the firewall for a new one, after that, i pulled off all the ground wire from the battery, clean it, checked the resistance and continuity of it and put it back. I tried to start the jeep after that and it was running very very slow and smoke came out from where the starter is... it was like the starter force on turning the engine... i put a new battery in it... do i have to replace the starter for a new one?

 

[90Blue_XJ]

ok.. heres an update... I change my ground wire that goes from the engine to the firewall for a new one, after that, i pulled off all the ground wire from the battery, clean it, checked the resistance and continuity of it and put it back. I tried to start the jeep after that and it was running very very slow and smoke came out from where the starter is... it was like the starter force on turning the engine... i put a new battery in it... do i have to replace the starter for a new one?

Before replacing the starter run an extra ground from the starters housing to the battery ground. Also run a ground from the starter housing to the body.
See if that eliminates the smoking habit of your wiring.

 

[kiwiqc]

would that possibility make the engine will start? because now he only run very slow but not enough to start...