Negative battery cable connector melted right off battery post

I got in my van this morning and it didn't start. No power at all. Thinking something was left on I went to charge the battery. I then noticed that the terminal connecter was just hanging there. I thought it just broke in two leaving no ground. I go to get another connector and put it on and as soon as it touched the negative terminal it started sparking like crazy. I have a new ground cable that is ground on the body and the engine jus like it originally was????? Any ideas what my problem could be fellows?

Still no luck. Really frustrating. I obviously have a short but I can't for the life of me figure out where.

Fixed the problem. The previous owner had the power wire to the starter running from the top around and it was rubbed bare. So note the starter wire should run underneath.

Happy to hear you found that without too much drama. I had a similar problem many years ago on a 71 econoline. The cable was not secured and was worn thru by the rotating fan over a period of years.:dizzy:

Thanks. Its always a good feeling to have to fix something that was done wrong by a previous owner. Now I know it is correct.