1997 kawasaki mule 550 - Battery problem

[hatcheb]

Hey,i had a dead battery in my 550, but when i took it off i forgot to look at where the wires came off. I remember the positive and negative wires, but there is one wire that i don't know where it goes. This wire looks like it is connected to a bolt or nut not far from where the battery is located. when i hook up the new battery, i cannot get any power. the only way to get power is when i connect this wire with the negative wire and then hook it to the battery, but when i do this, the break line ends up smoking. does any one know where this wire should go. Would it be some sort of grounding wire.

Thanks.

[boarder]

The wire might be the ground wire. Make sure to locate well where the wire is attached or connected.

[Travis]

usually the ground wire is underneath that cooling fan, right where the engine mounting bolts are. Kind of below the Oil FILTER

I have a 2001 550.. so it may be different.