Posted By: Mr.Yuck
what are these for? Batt cable quest - 01/21/09 07:00 PM
I got a new battery cable set-up online, like this one. I was looking at it yesterday and I wondered what is the extra red and grey wires for?? The old one that came off didn't have them, and the one I have they are not as long as pictured.
Posted By: 1E2C
Re: what are these for? Batt cable quest - 01/21/09 07:28 PM
To and from solenoid/starting relay.
More specifically, the smaller red one will go the 'hot' terminal on the relay, (usually on the inner fender); then the gray one goes from the out terminal on the relay to the solenoid. When you turn the key it puts power to the control terminal on the relay and closes a contact connecting the two and energizes the solenoid which pulls in the gear drive to engage the starter and, once that's pulled in closes a contact at the solenoid to energize the starter motor.
Mike
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: what are these for? Batt cable quest - 01/21/09 07:32 PM
Is that for a Hemi car? Not sure I have use for them.
Posted By: 1E2C
Re: what are these for? Batt cable quest - 01/21/09 07:36 PM
Trace the wire coming off the starter, not the large direct battery feed, the smaller one and see where it goes. That's where the gray wants to be. There should be two ~ 10 ga wires on the relay you should find at the end of that wire, the other should go to the battery - the red in that pic.
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: what are these for? Batt cable quest - 01/21/09 07:42 PM
No way those are going to reach the starter... not on the one I have. I was thinking that as well. The old one did not have those leads. I just dropped the motor yesterday so nothing is hooked up yet.
Posted By: 1E2C
Re: what are these for? Batt cable quest - 01/21/09 07:51 PM
Huh??? The gray wire is molded into the end of the cable along with the direct power to the starter motor. The gray then splits out in the middle of the cable assy to hit the relay. Then the small red hooks to that relay also, different terminal, and rejoins the cable assy for the rest of the distance to the battery. i.e. - the relay is a relative midpoint between battery and starter and controls application of battery power to the starter. You HAVE to have something similar in any factory type configuration. Now if this is a track only car with a starter pushbutton on the dash, the previous does not apply. Also not applicable if it's a 1940's vintage auto with the starter button on the floorboards, in that case the gray and red would go to the two terminals on the floor button.
Posted By: Anonymous
Re: what are these for? Batt cable quest - 01/21/09 07:52 PM
Quote:
No way those are going to reach the starter... not on the one I have. I was thinking that as well. The old one did not have those leads. I just dropped the motor yesterday so nothing is hooked up yet.
I think you misunderstood. The extra wires don't go to the starter, they go to the firewall relay.
Posted By: 1E2C
Re: what are these for? Batt cable quest - 01/21/09 08:18 PM
Yes, they split out of the cable assy in the middle. Like 440 said, those ends go to the relay. Now then, the other ends of them go; one to the starter (gray), and one to the battery (red). Notice on the molded rubber connector that goes to the starter, one large red (starter power) and the small gray (solenoid power). That small gray in that molded connector is the starter end of the gray that comes out in the middle. On the other end of the cable where the battery terminal is, coming out of that terminal is a large red, (starter power); and a smaller red - that smaller red is the other lead coming out in the middle of the cable. That smaller gauge wire red/gray is the power to the starter solenoid to actuate the starter and is switched in the middle by the relay with a color change of the wires to aid in identifying which end is which. I can't tell for sure from your picture, but I think I see a red wire ending just behind the brake booster - that may be where the relay is on your car.
Posted By: 1E2C
Re: what are these for? Batt cable quest - 01/21/09 08:33 PM
I just re-read your previous post and I think we're dancing around the answer. There are a total of three wires in the positive cable assembly. The large one goes batt to starter only, just one long chunk of wire. The other two only run - one from each end of the cable assy - to the center of the assy where they split out as you've shown in the circle of the first pic. The smaller two wires are connected to each other by the firewall relay only when the key is in the start position and in the start mode act as one straight wire from the batt to the starter solenoid. Sorry if I've made it harder than it is.
Mike
Posted By: Mr.Yuck
Re: what are these for? Batt cable quest - 01/21/09 09:55 PM
Ok I was wrong...this is the one I got. It appears to be for a 70-74 E-body...that said I hit buy it now for a 68-70 B-body...that was a while ago...dammmmmmmmmmm.
Posted By: Wagonmaster
Re: what are these for? Batt cable quest - 01/21/09 09:56 PM
Most of the earlier big cars have the starter relay on the inner fenderwell. Even my 81 truck still does. I guess it is by application.
