i figure this isnt likely to be figured out by anyone who cant actually get their hands on the vehicle but what the hell.

when i try to start up my 89 iroc (TPI, 6 speed, many mods, and jacked wiring) and when it cranked it would pause at rando and continue cranking. and them smoke comes out from somewhere underneath the ignition coil and the braided copper ground wire feels SUPER hot.
it only smokes when the key is turned to start, not on, and i think its the same short that caused smoke to come out where the radio used to be, so i imagine it has to be something thats only hot while the engine is running.
the previous owner pretty much ruined most of the wiring when he put the motor back in. butt spliced everything and didnt weatherproof it, and left it sitting for 6 years.
any ideas as to what could cause this kind of short? its not blowing a fuse or anything, although the dome light fuse blows within hours of installing a new one. seemingly unrelated though. i think ill have to get a whole new wiring harness. anyone know of a cheaper/easier solution? or have any clue as to if this would even solve the problem?

 

If your braided ground strap is getting hot while cranking, that means that you do not have sufficient grounding for your starter circuit. The braided strap is apparently a good ground, and your starter circuit is seeking ground through it.

The remedy is to provide a better ground from your engine block to the battery and the chassis. Check your connections on your battery ground strap to the engine, and repair or replace as needed. For a quick and dirty fix, add a ground cable from the battery to the engine, and another from the engine to the chassis.

 

Maybe the smoke is coming off the starter or wires at the starter it right underneath the coil.

 

Come to think of it if your small ground wire is getting hot it sounds like that's the only ground you have on the engine i believe that ground is for stopping interference with your ignition system ill bet your missing the main ground from the engine to the body.

 

awesome. i think both of you guys are making a lot of sense but it being 3 am im too tired to comprehend whats really going on. pretty sure i got the jist of it. ill read it again in the morning and discuss it with my dad.

and thanks for the freaking quick replies.

 

uhh, well, it mysteriously fixed itself...so yea. haha.

 

Wiring problems dont heal. Add the extra ground as suggested, no sense in cooking a starter

 

I'm having this exact problem with my 89 that I just got put back together. Tried to fire it up and I believe I'm 180 out on the timing but also my braided ground and little wire from the negative and the other two ground wires that are connected to the bell housing are getting really hot. Maybe I don't have something hooked up right on the starter it's self? I will check the ground from the block to the frame and make sure it's tight and not corroded.

 

engine block is not grounded properly-negative battery cable should connect to a good solid ground on the block-the starter motor pulls a lot of current,something like 200 amps.