Sparks from positive terminal on battery during rev.

[phi0s]

The duplicate thread alert yelled at me, but I skimmed over the threads that pulled up and none seem to be relative to my question. I was doing some maintanence on my 98 Eclipse GST last night and ended up replacing the battery (thought the original problem was the starter)

When I got the battery plugged in, it started up fine. I was really excited to hear that power again (had been about 2 months since I turned the car on), so I gave it a couple revs. Sparks flew from what looked like the positive terminal of the battery (I was in the car, my girlfriend saw them). I tightened the connections, checked the wires by the battery clamps and they seemed tight but still sparks, even on idle (did not have battery clamped down with the metal bracket that hooks to the battery tray)

Slept on it, woke up this morning and unhooked the battery to take back to AutoZone, and just on a whim hooked it back up (this time with the clamp on (not sure if that's relevant)) started no problem, didn't see any sparks at all.

I am not that experienced with cars in the slightest, but I'd like to learn and I've googled my head off. Is this something I should get checked out? What happened, and should I worry my battery is going to explode or catch fire while I'm driving?

 

[luv2rallye]

The battery needs to be clamped down to keep it from rocking when engine is running or car is moving so the battery positive terminal does not touch the hood (common problem) or any strut tower bar. The positive terminal should also have a rubber boot insulator on it. I assume you have the battery polarity correct with the negative connected to the body and starter mounting bolt is bell housing, while the positive connects to the fusebox and starter positive stud.