During the winter I pulled my motor to fix leak issues. I dropped it back in and have hooked up everything (everything was clearly labeled.) Now, when I try to connect the negative cable to the battery it sparks and heats the bolt if I leave it touching for just a second. The neg cable grounds between the block and alt/ps bracket and the smaller wire off the neg cable was untouched from where it was bolted previously. Obviously I'm missing something, but what would be cause this? Is it a missing ground issue, or could it be something on the positive side. I replaced the starter. Would incorrectly hooking up that (it's not complicated obviously) cause this. It's getting dark and cold, so I stopped for the night to ponder this dilemma. Thanks

Kevin

 

Something on the positive circuit is shorted to ground.

 

Yeah - I think I erred with the starter connections.

 

I noticed I reconnected the round connector of the positive lead between the accessory bracket and the block, instead of on the outside of the acc bracket. Would that be the something on the positive circuit shorted to ground? The connector broke as I was removing it, so I have to splice in a new one. As it was not connected to anything the negative terminal was no longer shooting sparks when I touched the negative cable to it.

 

The positive lead doesn't go to either of those locations.

 

From the positive battery terminal, the wire splits, the thicker of the two (without the fusible link) runs along the front sway bar to the passenger side, where it ultimately ends in an eye connector at the bottom torq bolt of the A/C & smog pump pulley bracket.

 

No it doesn't. Connect it there and you'll just keep melting things.

 

I'm not making it up. It's been connected there for 20 years. But OK. Let's assume I'm wrong. Where would that eye connector (that just happens to be long enough and shaped perfectly to fit where I say it does) be connected if not there? But, you're right. It doesn't go there. Where does it go?
The picture is shot from underneath the car, looking up.

 

you can't connect the positive lead to any part of the chassis, this is ground, it doesn't go there. the positive lead goes to the starter/alternator.

 

You guys are correct. I'm a jackass. That has to go to the starter then?