battery cable issue

[josephdawood]

I bought a 2024 Bronco last month, and yesterday I got a “Charging System Service Now” message. After I opened the hood to check the battery, I found that the battery cable had been cut and the battery was connected with small wires, and those wires had melted. I was wondering if you have any idea how to fix it

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[Lifeliberty]

Where did you buy this?

 

[josephdawood]

Copart

 

[Lifeliberty]

Red wire shouldn't go to ground, but seeing how they joined the wire with tape, maybe they ran out of black wire. That entire thing is a fire hazard. All that needs removed and wired correctly. I'd take pictures of what it should look like, but I'm in for the night

 

[Brian_B]

Those wires are grounding out somewhere and that's why they are burning up.

Unhook them from the battery terminal and ziptie them out of the way. You need to find where they are getting (+) power too and unhook that to fix the charging system error (I'm guessing that's the second pic).

Whatever they are running - they will need new wiring run to it. They all look like non-OEM stuff. Very non-OEM

 

[Ducati1098]

Yikes.. that is the shadiest wiring I’ve ever seen

 

[Phil B]

Since it came from Copart, I'll guess maybe firefighters cut the cables after an accident. Someone "patched" it back together. I can see it's both positive and negative cables and the positive side melted down. Yikes!

 

[josephdawood]

should i change the whole battery cables or just those bad conations

 

[SledDog30]

The whole shooting match. Change all of it. You got a fire hazard on your hands. Inspect everything carefully and replace anything that looks shady or just looks wrong.

I’m guessing you didn’t bother to look under the hood before you took possession of it.

 

[Doc TOC]

From the questions your are asking, I presume you don't know a lot about the newer battery systems or car electrical. Also presume this was an "As Is" purchase. Correct me if that is not so.

Your Bronco needs the proper gauge wires connected to the proper terminals and fuses, with the correct type connectors and lugs. Otherwise, you are risking your alternator, battery management module, and battery, as well as other wiring and electronic modules. That stuff will cost multiples of the cost to rewire what got botched.

Your choices are a dealership or a well established car stereo shop. The latter constantly deal with properly gauging and connecting wires to the battery system to handle big amp/speaker draws. They can help troubleshoot any other accessory wiring added onto the vehicle. Their hourly rates tend to be way less, and the technicians are willing to go the extra mile (some dealerships are good about that, others not so much). And don't be shy about asking for an estimated cost range before you commit.

You don't want your next post being about how your Bronco burnt up.

 

[not on the rug]

How does one buy a used vehicle without giving it a thorough once-over, bringing a mechanic friend to the purchase and-or taking it to a trusted mechanic for an inspection bwfore you sign on the dotted line?
I'm imagining if this shit-show is in plain sight, there is far worse stuff wrong with that vehicle.

 

[josephdawood]

From the questions your are asking, I presume you don't know a lot about the newer battery systems or car electrical. Also presume this was an "As Is" purchase. Correct me if that is not so.

Your Bronco needs the proper gauge wires connected to the proper terminals and fuses, with the correct type connectors and lugs. Otherwise, you are risking your alternator, battery management module, and battery, as well as other wiring and electronic modules. That stuff will cost multiples of the cost to rewire what got botched.

Your choices are a dealership or a well established car stereo shop. The latter constantly deal with properly gauging and connecting wires to the battery system to handle big amp/speaker draws. They can help troubleshoot any other accessory wiring added onto the vehicle. Their hourly rates tend to be way less, and the technicians are willing to go the extra mile (some dealerships are good about that, others not so much). And don't be shy about asking for an estimated cost range before you commit.

You don't want your next post being about how your Bronco burnt up.

 

[josephdawood]

Thanks for the info. yes this Bronco was an “As Is” purchase and I had no idea the battery cable had been cut and replaced with small wires until I got the charging system warning and checked under the hood.


I agree 100% that the wiring is unsafe. I’m planning to take it to an electric shop. I just wanted to understand what could have caused this and what my options were before bringing it in.


Appreciate the detailed explanation and the advice.

 

[DuneRunner]

a couple things to be aware of :

1. All of your ground connections need to be AFTER the current sensor ( the black thing on the ground terminal post). Your bronco will have issues in the electrical system otherwise.
2. the best fix here is to buy a replacement oem ground cable and replace it.
3. you probably have some aftermarket electrical accessories connected, please disconnect them all and redo the wiring properly with fuses or circuit breakers. This is more than likely why this car wound up at copart.

post more pictures in this thread of the rest of your wiring, this is fixable but don’t hack it like the last person did.

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