Last night my battery hold down broke and sent the positive post right into the frame. I was able to get the battery off but not before some smoke starting coming from the dashboard. it starts and runs just fine, but when i hit the breaks the rpm gauge stops working and the engine sounds like ***. When i try to flip up the head lights the rpm gauge stops working and the engine sounds like ***. Ive left the battery unpluged in hopes to reset the ECU but it hasnt worked. When the battery grounded it melted a ground from the battery to the frame im about to replace that but im not sure if that will solve the problem. Anyone with a similar problem?

 

First off, fix the melted ground wire and then check you fusible links and fuses. Ensure those are in good working order. If not then you may find a shorted wire section on a circuit with a bad fuse.

What exactly did the positive post touch? If the hold down broke, the battery would have slid into the a.c. compressor I've seen that happen. I've also seen arc marks on the underside of the hood from the battery jumping up and touching the hood. For the battery to fall down and touch a metal part of the car, the cables would have had to have come disconnected and the battery would have had to have fallen in between the engine and left front strut tower. I'm curious what happened.

 

It touched right underneath the hood right next where the driver side pop-ups are. Fuses are good and the fusible links didnt melt through (I think thats what theyre supposed to do, they melted through on my datsun a while back) im going to autozone now to pick up a new fuse but ima try to unplug my break light switch and see if that changes anything.

 

Possible it had incorrect as in reversed terminals battery in car...

 

I'm going with this one. The terminals should be on the inboard side with the positive toward the firewall so this doesn't happen. Also use terminal covers.

 

Just had it tested at Autozone and they said the battery is mint but im going to replace the bad ground now. Fingers crossed lmao

 

Likely wiring issues inside car after letting smoke out of dash wire harness.

 

I redid the 3 way ground and re solderd some wires buned underneath the dsah and shes back on the road running cherry again!

 

Does your car have the correct battery? Take a pic and post here if not sure.

 

It does but i dont have hold down anymore so ill have to find one lol

 

At least put a black rubber bungee on it until you find a good replacement. You don't wanna go through this again!