Hi folks,

Advice and tips and info wanted.
 Thursday My van would not start.  starter made a little effort then died.  Very strange as I had a trickle charger and the battery showed  charged.  after trying the car I put on my fast charger and it showed 5 on the 12 to zero scale.  0 I think is fully charged.

A hour later the van started.

        I went to the car parts store and they tested my battery.  It tested perfect until we hit the starter.  He said the cold cranks were half gone.

I ordered a new battery.

They had to use a booster pack to get me started to go home.

Today I removed the old battery and got a surprise.

I found that the hot main wire was fine.  Attached to the terminal is also a thick hot wire.  Not sure but perhaps this is a direct wire to the starter?  This wire was worn right down to metal.  Someone had put some  silicone calk on the side of the battery compartment but clearly the wire had rubbed right down.

So, What is this wire?

Would it cause just the cold cranks to go bad?
Could my battery still be good?

If shorted against the metal of the battery compartment why didn't it blow up or cause a fire!

Years ago  I kneeled down on the backseat of a old VW beetle, and blew up the battery smoke flames and all! Interestingly the blown up battery started the car and we drove it to sears for a new battery!

I'm glad that didn't happen this time!

I'd love to know what the wire is and if it touching the compartment could have caused the starting problem and the bad battery reading.  Also is it possible the battery is still good?

Should I heat shrink over the broken insulation or actually cut the wire put on a clean connector and heat shrink over the whole thing?

Eric Caron 
85 GL Auto Westfalia