I was leaving work tonight the same time as a coworker and he went to start his van but it wouldn't start and he asked if I could jump it. I didn't know if it would work because this was a giant van and I don't want to admit this because he was a friend, but I just got a new Optima battery and I didn't want to have anything bad happen to it.

I got the cables hooked up right (red to red, etc) and then my end starts melting when he started the van. I don't think there's anything wrong except some melted plastic on my battery. Did that do anything bad to it?

 

were they your cables? and if so how old approx?

 

they were shorting somewhere, sux for your new optima

 

Since the van was able to charge and start the polarity was not reversed. Which color wire melted or did both of them? The Red (+) on his end was most likely touching the body or some grounded point on his car. If so this would have causing a short and damage both batteries, causing your end of the wires to melt.

Since your battery is an optima check to see if the two grey round circular tabs are popped up (near the terminals) if so the warranty is void and the batery is damaged. If the plastic casing of the battery is melted or swollen I would have it looked at to make sure the battery is in a safe condition this may also void the warranty. But, if you don't see anything like this on your battery chances are it may have been slightly damaged but should be ok, but if it does stop holding a charge in the next two years it will be under warranty.

For future reference, the best way to be sure that you are connecting jumper cables properly is to look at the markings on the battery. On the battery there should be a + symbol for positive/red and a - symbol for negative/black and make sure the metal clamps are not touching eachother or anything other than the terminals.

 

Oh ****, now my battery won't hold a charge for more than a few hours! I got up this morning for school and had to jump it from my dad's car. I rode around all day with the system and woofers off in fear of using too much power for that unnecessary stuff and when I turn off the car, I stepped on the gas a little to put some charge in it for when I start it again.

Yes the tabs are popped up also and the wires weren't mine but they looked so old and decrepid. In the back of my mind I was going to tell him I needed to get somewhere real quick and couldn't help but ethics took over. This is what I get for helping.

I think I'm going to pick up a cheap Diehard tomorrow and put it in for now. I'm ****ed!

 

he better pay, there had to be some sparks somewhere, definatly a short. sorry

 

did you ground the negative cable on the van or did you just hook it up str8 ot the battery? and what kind of large van are you talking about? It shouldn't really make a difference unless it was some kind of huge uhaul truck or something.

 

go tell him that his old cables shorted out and i'm sure that he saw the melted cables. Tell him your battery doesn't hole a charge, and that it's an EXPENSIVE battery.

damn that sucks. Now go grab yourself some good cables and if you EVER have to use it, use YOURS. good luck man, sorry to hear about the ****ty luck.