Positive Wire to Fuse Box ?

[IronMan]

On my 85' toyota, the positive wire that runs from the positive terminal on the battery to the bottom of the fuse box is hot to the touch. Does that mean the battery is overcharging? Is it normal? The volt gauge is always toward the top (SR5 truck/dash). Its a 22re with an optima blue top. TIA

[fourwd1]

Heat is generated by current draw, not voltage. The current draw by lights, stereo, etc. would have to be at or greater than the rating of the wire for it to heat up. Unless there is a short somewhere (not a dead short).

[IronMan]

What should I look for? Does anyone else's truck do the same thing?

[robrocketanski]

or high resistance at the connections of that wire.

[fourwd1]

Right. A poor connection would create a high resistance, which would result in heat.

You could try disconnecting the wire from the battery and let it cool down. Reconnect and if it heats up again, the spot where it begins is where you start looking.

This is assuming you don't have something connected that's drawing too much current.

Also, does this occurr only when the engine is running, or what?

[chuck]

Originally posted by IronMan
What should I look for? Does anyone else's truck do the same thing?
Mine is doing the same thing plus more. Just feel lucky that it is still running. The problem with my truck is that there is a hot wire grounding out some where. And that is what is pulling amps on mine. So now the question is; How do you fine these shorts in the system?

[robrocketanski]

you can disconnect the battery terminal and put a test light between the battery and the cable. if there is almost no light your ok if there is good light you have a draw (the correct tool to use is a dvom set to amps around 25 milliamp would be ok)

if there is a draw then pull one fuse at a time until it goes out. make sure the doors are closed and the key is off/out. once you pull a fuse that makes it go out then thats the circuit its on. get an ewd and start w/ the most easily damaged places.

[IronMan]

My truck only does it when its running. The wire isn't extremely hot, its not melting the insulation, but its hotter than I would like. I'm gonna try to track it down, maybe the stereo.