Battery/crank problem

[WillC]

So basically I am trying to get my car running and I hooked the starter up and when I went to plug in my battery the negative terminal had a big spark and the car started to crank and bump forward.
If anyone knows the cause of this please help.
Thank you.

 

[96blak54]

Thats weird! Sounds like the starter solenoid might be wired directly to the battery by means of a wire or something jumping from the contact at the starter to solenoid. Could be a stuck solenoid too. If the starter is old/original it could be any of these.

Get down and look that starter over real good. Make sure the battery lead at the starter doesnt have something crossing over to the solenoid. Good luck. Hope you figure it out

 

[WillC]

Thats weird! Sounds like the starter solenoid might be wired directly to the battery by means of a wire or something jumping from the contact at the starter to solenoid. Could be a stuck solenoid too. If the starter is old/original it could be any of these.

Get down and look that starter over real good. Make sure the battery lead at the starter doesnt have something crossing over to the solenoid. Good luck. Hope you figure it out

What do you mean something crossing over.. like something touching the battery lead? I have the battery lead on the pole closes to the starter and the ground on the outer pole.

 

[ttocs]

I bet that made ya jump a bit. As he said either the ignition switch is bad, the starter relay, some wiring in between or the solenoid is stuck.

 

[RAU03MACH]

car started to crank and bump forward.
are you saying the car moved forward
that would be safety neutral switch is hot wired and is in gear while doing it
more details.

 

[WillC]

car started to crank and bump forward.
are you saying the car moved forward
that would be safety neutral switch is hot wired and is in gear while doing it
more details.

Yes, the car is a manual so I was confused on how it was able to move forward or even crank without the clutch pressed in. Could it be the clutch safety switch?

 

[ttocs]

it is possible that the switch is somehow shorted but you should be able to test this by just disconnecting it. Personally I would start at the starter and trace the wiring back. Look for bare copper, pins in the harnesses and that nothing is pinched/shorted.