Ok, so.
1. I was trying to get the starter new starter to work as it did not spin over. I suspected a bad positive battery cable going to the starter as it was old and cracked.
2. A friend gave me a new positive battery cable that was bigger than the old one.
3. I connected the new cable and all of the wires back up to the car.
4. I went to try and start the car and nothing happened. looked at the ammeter and it was pegged at discharge.
5. With the key still in the start position, I heard a small sizzling noise and saw smoke coming from under dash. then I turned the key off.
6. When I looked under the dash a wire that went to nothing, (just ground at both ends to the column bracket) was burned through.
7. Curious if the wire was connected to another wire going to the start switch on the other side of the bracket, I dropped the column to get a better look at the wires.
8. I didn't see any wires going to the burnt ground and no other wire was burnt.
9. put the column back and checked all the fuses, grounds, continuity, etc. everything seems fine but starter will not kick over still.
hope that clears everything up.
