......Take care to be safe while doing any of these suggestions! ......
.......So sliding my hand along the wire I felt it welded to the
manifold.....
About 40 years ago a co-worker showed up on a Monday with his left hand
in a bandage.  He explained it this way:  He was working under the car
and somehow managed to jam his wedding ring between the hot connection
and ground at the starter.  Before he could jerk his hand free it was
too late.  All the flesh under the ring was burned to the bone.  The
doctors ended up amputating the ring finger.  This was a man who
normally removed his rings and watch when he walked into work each
morning (we had a lot of high voltage with unlimited current in the
equipment we woked on) and anytime he had the door open on a hot rack of
equipment one hand was in his pocket, a very knowledgeable and careful
guy.  Only one mistake is all it takes.  BE CAREFUL WHEN WORKING AROUND
THE BATTERY!