1980 300sd boosting problem
 

I'm having a problem getting my 300SD boosted after sitting all winter. When I turn the key it turns over as if there is very little current (i.e. dead battery). I tried boosting it straight to the battery cables instead of connecting to the battery, and the same thing, except the battery cables became so hot some of the plastic on them started melting......

Any ideas?

BTW, I'm boosting from my Dodge Ram 2500 diesel.....

Sounds like a bad battery to me. I'd take it to an auto parts store and have it tested.

I bypassed the battery completely.....

You may want to temporarily install the good battery, you get better connections that way, I've seen it work. You may also want to replace the cables that got very hot.

But if I bypassed the battery and went straight to the battery cables, shouldn't I have enough power from a running vehicle to start it? :confused:

Something else has to be wrong.

Replace your battery. If that doesn't work it could be a burnt out starter solenoid. My car began giving me starting problems this winter, but once i replaced the battery (and primed my fuel system) I've had no more problems.

I can't explain why it won't work by bypassing the battery apart from the fact that booster cables are not designed to carry a full starting load. But when I've run into a similar situation in the past, replacing the battery solved it.

Okay, fine....I can get a new battery.

But if boosting it from a running vehicle without a battery, i.e. STRAIGHT TO THE CABLES doesn't work, isn't that indicative of a different problem than the dead battery that isn't there?

I'm not trying to boost the battery, I'm trying to boost directly to the starter.

Are your booster cables of the same size as the battery cables? If they are not, it is quite likely they cannot carry adequate load to energize the starter. This would account for why they started melting.

I use them to boost the Cummins diesel....I should be able to turn over a small airliner with that engine and those cables..... :(

have you checked your cells? make sure theyre blinking at you.. then boost your battery ombre

I'd test the existing battery before replacing it.

Battery or not, I can't see starting it if I can't boost it from a running vehicle.

I'd agree with this if the cables and connections are the equivalent of the cables and connections on the battery. If they are, then it is the equivalent of having a different battery in the car. Most jumper cables I have seen have neither the connections nor the size to be equal to the battery cables/connections and because of this can't carry an equal load.

Jumper cables, have 3 things agains them. Size of the cable, quality of the connection, and the length of the cable. These all reduce the available power.
It is unlikely that all of the cells in the battery are dead.
Hook up the bat in the car, hook up the cables and let it "charge" for 15-20 while the truck runs, and see if it will start.
Make sure all of the connections are clean