Today, I was driving and the van was making some funny noises so I pulled over into a parking lot and attempted to turn the van off, but when I did - the van's engine did not. It sounded like it was trying to turn over. I turned the van on again thinking that something just missed and if I tried to shut her off again then it would. It didn't so I opened the hood and saw the engine moving back and forth as if it were trying to start. So, I figured that I would turn it on again and simply drive it home, hoping that it would turn off there and I'd figure it out. But as I began driving, I noticed some faint appearances of white smoke so I stopped again in the same parking lot and opened the hood and saw white smoke starting to increase. Initially, it seemed to be coming from under the engine and I jumped to the ground to see if I could see from where it was coming, but when I couldn't find it- I stood up and the smoke had increased bad and it was coming from near the fuse box/red battery cable. So, I tried to quick jerk the battery cable off and it burnt my hand. (I know...stupid). After about 30-60 seconds, the smoke was gone but it looks like the red battery cable was burnt. The van won't even attempt to start right now. when I try to turn her over, she is blank. However, I checked some of the fuses and they are fine. I turned on the interior electrical components and they work (headlights/wipers/radio/lights/odometer etc... work). I just replaced the battery a few weeks ago and had the alternator tested and was told nothing was wrong except the battery did need to be changed. (it hadn't since 2003). There was some corrosion on the battery cable (red) prior. I also had prior difficulty starting the van as it would do nothing when I tried to turn her over after one turn of the key, but if I did it a second or 3rd time, then it would start.
That is the background, Could you direct me to what I must do?
What kind of damage could have occurred? Thanks
That is the background, Could you direct me to what I must do?
What kind of damage could have occurred? Thanks