[sg5492]

I attach a pic (not a good pic) it has white stuff that is hard until you scrape it then it turns into powder and it is just on the bottom. It looks like it split the paint.

I had a issue with the positive battery cable a few weeks ago. It was dumping out the same type of white stuff. Here is a link to that question http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252348 I now have that fixed.

Any ideas I'm stumped

 

[BigBocks66SS]

That looks like battery acid to me. I have never seen it go all the way down to the starter though. I looked at the previous post on your battery cables. I would suspect that you are having a problem with the battery. It looks like the acid is getting into the positive cable and "wicking" down to the starter through the cable. I would replace the battery and the positive cable. Like a said I have never seen this before, and don't know alot about battery design, but something is wrong.

 

[z15cam]

I don’t know what most members experiences are about routing thick 00 or 1 cable from the battery to the starter but I’ve always had issues with the cable rubbing the block (BBC that is) just as it bends to attach to the starter terminal. On one occasion the cable shaved the insulation off and shorted to the block and literally melted my battery.

It is possible that you are experiencing a similar issue where you have an intermittent short to the block from the battery led in which case the field winding of the starter could be heating up and burning the paint off the starter.

I fixed the problem by slipping an elbow shaped hose over the starter cable where it contacts the block just before the starter terminal. I can’t remember if the cable routes above or below the dipstick tube right now.

It's possible that you could have a low voltage leak within the solenoid feeding the starter field coils and creating electrolysis.

Do you have any problems keeping the battery charged up?

Just noticed your PIC again; you might have a small leak from that transmission line joint spraying on to the starter; just enough that it drys off from the engine heat but enough to dissolve the paint on the starter. If you notice any oil at all on the starter, it probably gets there via a small oil pan gasket leak. Seems to me if a BBC pan is to leak it is always between the starter and the dipstick. It would just a matter of re-torquing the pan bolts. New Oil Pans are susceptible to this and the PSGR Side is the side the crank troughs oil onto.

 

[sg5492]

Thanks for the info guys, I do have problems keeping the battery charged up if it sets for more than 3 weeks.

 

[Chris R]

I would get rid of that battery in a hurry.

 

[z15cam]

Chris: I don't believe it's the battery but a short in the solenoid that is keeping the field coils of the starter energized or as I point out the possibility of the battery cable rubbing against the block and passing current back through the field windings of the starter. I don't know where he has the Block grounded or if he has it grounded - which he should. I always run a direct ground line from the Negative Post of the battery to the engine then 2 another grounds from the engine to the cowl and to the Rad Support or Wheel Well. I agree if the battery lead where to contact the block there should be one H*LL of a spark as it would be a direct short but if he does not have the engine grounded properly and the cable is contacting the block the Field Coils of the Starter and possibly the alternator will take a beating. A low voltage short in the solenoid will do the same thing.

The short could possibly be the Field Coils of the starter grounding to the casing.

 

[DaveP.]

The bolt in the positive cable on the battery is too long. It has ruptured the case, and acid is wicking down the cable. Replace the battery, the cable, and the bolt.

 

[sg5492]

That looks like battery acid to me. I have never seen it go all the way down to the starter though. I looked at the previous post on your battery cables. I would suspect that you are having a problem with the battery. It looks like the acid is getting into the positive cable and "wicking" down to the starter through the cable. I would replace the battery and the positive cable. Like a said I have never seen this before, and don't know alot about battery design, but something is wrong.

The bolt in the positive cable on the battery is too long. It has ruptured the case, and acid is wicking down the cable. Replace the battery, the cable, and the bolt.

Dave & Jim I think you guys are on to something here. When I fixed the issue with the positive battery cable a few weeks ago, I pulled the cable off the battery there was some liquid on the bolt.

But the outside of the cable and the battery is dry. Can it travel though the inside of the cable?

I have looked the cable over and it is not rubbing on the block and I have at least 2 other grounds.

 

[Xtreme70SS396]

Note the corrosion on your tranny line also - could be acid, could be electolysis (more likely IMO), but if that tranny line develops a hole - tranny fluid is FLAMMABLE!

Might want to check it out.

 

[Chris R]

My original thought was battery acid at first as well. That was the initial reason I recommended getting rid of that battery. Forgive me if I missed it, is this causing any electrical problems or purely cosmetic?

 

[sg5492]

Note the corrosion on your tranny line also - could be acid, could be electolysis (more likely IMO), but if that tranny line develops a hole - tranny fluid is FLAMMABLE!

Might want to check it out.

I did take a look at the tranny lines and it looks like some of that stuff dip off the starter on to the lines. The lines are not touching the starter and look to be in good shape.

My original thought was battery acid at first as well. That was the initial reason I recommended getting rid of that battery. Forgive me if I missed it, is this causing any electrical problems or purely cosmetic?

Since I found the first issue that battery will not hold a charge for more than 3 weeks. That starter works fine when the battery has a good charge.

 

[Chris R]

This doesnt typically cause your problem. But have you tried putting a test light in between the battery cable and the battery terminal, with the battery disconnected?

 

[sg5492]

This doesnt typically cause your problem. But have you tried putting a test light in between the battery cable and the battery terminal, with the battery disconnected?

No I haven't. If I'm following you on this, the light should NOT light? If every thing is working right.

 

[Shane 69 Hugger]

I am thinking the same as these guys...

 

[z15cam]

Dave:

The bolt in the positive cable on the battery is too long. It has ruptured the case, and acid is wicking down the cable. Replace the battery, the cable, and the bolt.

Guess you've been there on that one - Good one though ;o)

 

[swcash]

I had that happen on a boat. Capillary action will draw the acid all the way through the copper part of the cable. The cables that are tinned or silver plated are supposed to eliminate the problem.
The only bthing you can do is replace the cable.
Squido