Quaraxkad Posted September 26, 2008 Report Share Posted September 26, 2008 I just got done fixing some melted/brittle wires in my wiring harness (just the ones bundled with the injector wires). I also replaced the power cable between the alternator and starter. After I plugged everything back in and went to connect the negative battery cable, there were sparks and smoke from the battery terminal. After checking my connections I figured out that it only happens when the new alternator power cable is connected to the starter. I checked the cable and it's not shorting out anywhere and is wrapped in high-temp wire loom. Could my alternator be bad and cause this? When removing the alternator and old cable the first time, I had to take it apart to repair the post that the power cable goes onto. The post unscrewed from the alt. instead of the nut just coming off the post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted September 27, 2008 Report Share Posted September 27, 2008 I accidentally pinched the wire by the alternator against the intake manifold in my 91 euro... and it did what you describe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockfangd Posted September 27, 2008 Report Share Posted September 27, 2008 yeah it sounds like a wire is shorting to ground , probably near the firewall somewhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quaraxkad Posted September 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2008 I think I figured it out, but it's dark out now so I'll have to wait and check tomorow... When I replaced the post on the alternator, there was a plastic piece between the post and body of the alternator. It was brittle and cracking, and now that I think about it may have been keeping the post from contacting the body of the alternator, which is grounded. I bet I tightened the post too much, it cracked the plastic washer-type thing, and is now grounding out against the alt. body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockfangd Posted September 28, 2008 Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 that would be your problem. You may have to get another alternator unless you can figure something out to seperate the case and cable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quaraxkad Posted September 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 Problem solved... It was my own stupid mistake mentioned above. I put a thick nylon washer between the terminal post and alt. body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockfangd Posted September 28, 2008 Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 very nice. I love the color of that car lol. Especially with the silver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lumineer Posted September 29, 2008 Report Share Posted September 29, 2008 very nice. I love the color of that car lol. Especially with the silver I agree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quaraxkad Posted September 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2008 very nice. I love the color of that car lol. Especially with the silver I agree Thanks! It's going to get its (probably) very first wash and wax pretty soon, so I'll finally have some nice looking pictures to post in my picture thread: http://www.w-body.com/forum/index.php?topic=71077.0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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