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411 Starter failed then caused a engine bay fire!

1059 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  Big B
Fired up the 411 today to move some fire wood around and then i noticed smoke and the smell of burning rubber. Quickly jumed out of the mog popped the hood to see a fire.

Well i moved pretty quick to put it out, pulled batter terminal ect.

Turned out to be the positive on the starter solinoid that heat up so much that the cable caught fire and burned the surrounding wires.

Can someone tell me why it would do this? Is it pulling to many amps or something? Is something wrong with the starter? Cables not big enough?
Looking for idea's here.
I'll need to find parts but wondering what caused this so it won't happen again.

I've never had a starter catch fire like this.
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Welded contacts, that's possible, it just burnt right through.
Why? i don't know?

Took it apart, and it just seems to be the solenoid that melted a big whole through the top cover. Other than the starter, no real damage.

Of course this happens on a saturday afternoon. I'll check monday for parts.
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