nick812

I have been having some problems seems like i aint getting enough power to the starter. I am running 2 ga from battery to the front. 4 ga from there to starter 2 ga ground at the battery 4 ga under the hood with a few extra 10 ga ground wires. I have bee n thinkg about running another 10ga to the starter and maybe adding a few more 10ga and 8 ga grounds at the battery. Do you think this is alittle over kill or ok? Could this help with my problems starting? I am running a RED TOP batttery.

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

Enough already,lol.

Is your battery located in the passenger bin?

nick812

Yea its where the bin was in the past. LOL I am thinking about putting the bins back. Also thinking about adding a 2nd redtop in the drivers side.

Manntis

What is happening that makes you think you're not getting enough power to the starter?

Since there's but the one wire from battery to starter, there are a few possibilities I can think of:
- your bettery terminal(s) is/are loose.
-The nut on the starter post is loose.
-The wire is a) corroded and b) oversize. Stock was 4 gauge and works fine, why do you need 2 gauge? though it's not that big of an increase, really.
- poor ground. Where did you anchor your negative cable?

other than that, it might be something else entirely. Is the starter spininng but the solenoid isn't engaging? Is the engine just slow to crank over? More info req'd.

nick812

Slow turning over but hook up a small battery charger and it will turn over fast and start right up.

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

Sounds like you have a failing battery. Take it in and have it tested.

nick812

I have twice tessted good and the battery is less than a year old but i just did the relocation a few days before the first race this autocross season.

Manntis

age of a battery really doesn't mean much. I've had one fail after 6 months, whereas the factory battery in Pamela was still strong after 19 years.

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

Who and how is the battery being tested?

nick812

I tested it at work once and had it at AZ twice since they are the one i bought it from. Our tester at work test the battery under loads. I know age dont mean much but the RED tops are said to be good sitting on a shelf for 2 years.

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

Don't believe everything you read,lol.
When a battery is load tested it needs to be done 3 or 4 times in a row. Load testing it once just barely takes the surface of it. If there is a problem it will start going down after the 3 or 4th time the load is being put on it.
As Manntis stated check your connections to make sure they are tight and clean. Both on the battery and the cables. Also check the small wire to the starter.
If after all is tested including the proper load testing of the battery and all show well. Then maybe it is time to have the starter tested for amperage draw.

13BTOY

iTrader: (1)

I have a Red top now that does not want to hold a charge. Brand new!


Thanks, Ed

nick812

OK I might take it to work and load test it but its DERBY weekend lots of HUGE PARTYS. The starter is new 2. LOL along with most of the car. The termanials are new but i will check them to.

inuissus_cendi

When you put the battery farther away (in the passenger bin area for example) you run a longer cable. Longer cable = more resistance. Bigger cable = less resistance. Bigger + longer cable = juuuuust riiiiiiighhhht.

You said you ran a 2 ga to the front? and 4 from there to the starter? What do you mean by the front exactly? and why step down the cable size?

I'm with everyone else, double check all connections and grounds first.

edit: If you want to see if its the battery or a connection issue just yank the battery from another car and try it. If it starts its your battery. If it doesn't you've got a connection problem.

nick812

It may sound crazy but I am using a currect breaker near where the battery was so I didnt have to do alot or rewiring. Thats why the 2ga front to rear, then 4 ga to starter. I check conections at starter and they are all good. 1 of my 4ga ground wires was not grounded so bolted it down seamed to help.

Manntis

so you went to the 'front', to some junction, then to the starter?

ALWAYS have a wire directly from the battery to the starter. No junctions, etc. in between.

inuissus_cendi

I'm with manntis. Too much resistance between your battery and starter. Running a cable all the way to the front, where the battery used to be, through a breaker, and then a step down to 4ga... you're naturally going to get alot less power to the starter than stock.

Think about it... stock runs 4ga from the front battery location to the starter. You're running the same length and gauge of cable, but first running a cable all the way from the back to that same location.

You can keep the breaker I think but shorten the path of the cable and run 2ga all the way. That and tightening all connections (grounds and positive) and you should be right as rain.

nick812

yea not gonna happen 4ga should be big enough only thing i might do is add a 10 or 8ag stright from battery to starter to give it a little more help. 2ga was left over from a high end car audio I had in another car. Every one I know has done something simialer and been ok.

Manntis

Shorten the wire, as we've both said.

Asking for help, then telling those who try to help you "yeah, not gonna happen." isn't condusive to getting more help in the future

nick812

no what I am saying is the battery is closer to the front in my car than in my friends car he has his in the very back passengers side corner. What I am saying is explain why his works fine mine dont. Also I ran 4ga all around in the vette and no problems thats why I am saying i dont see where shorting the wirs any mor will help. Also it aint but maybe 2 to 3 feet longer than if I make it as short as possible. I really dont see 2 or 3 feet making a difference. The currect breaker maybe a problem but what are other options to tie in the the wires I have going to the fuse box and starter? EXPLAIN YOUR SELF!!!!!!!!! Dont just tell some to do something with out explaining.

Manntis

read the recent thread on battery relocation. Tons of info in there, including pics.

REVHED

Run the 2ga wire directly to the starter. From there you can run a smaller wire to the fusebox.