Help! Battery isnt charging when starting!

[BrianDye]

Long story short, I was doing the big 3, did the battery to body ground, and then when I was doing the alt to battery, the stock alt wire sparked against the alternator, (I know, VERY stupid mistake. I thought I had the pos. disconnected, but it slid over enough to touch the terminal again)

Its about to storm like hell outside, so I just undid the 0 gauge from the alt and everythings stock besides the neg. battery terminal, and the body ground.

I checked ALL the fuses, none are popped, loose, etc. Is there some kind of main circuit breaker or something?

The truck starts, and my meter shows 12v even. When I turn it off, it goes to about 12.4, then started it again and it was between 11.8 and 12.

I have to leave soon but im vehicle-less! Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[BrianDye]

My battery light isnt on, and I just checked the readings at the alternator, thats only 12v too, which I think is just from the battery?

It dropped down to like 11.8v while running. I jumped the 2 big wires on the underhood fuse box and nothing.

 

[BrianDye]

Could that have really killed my alternator? That literally millisecond of a short on it? Im about to go buy one from AZ, I dont think I can get my belt off alone, and no ones around...damnit this f**king blows!

 

[corkey]

it probably fried the diodes in the alternator ,

i would say ,,,,duh losing,,

you probably need an alternator rebuild , or a new one,,

 

[BrianDye]

Losing for sure


But it would really mess the alt up even with the key off?


*Edit, yea I get what your saying now. I just hope I can get the thing swapped out by tomorrow at 4.

 

[scucci]

Did you check the 175 amp mega fuse in the distribution box?

 

[Turdle]

Did you check the 175 amp mega fuse in the distribution box?

there is also an alternator fuse--

 

[BrianDye]

This may sound stupid, but where is it on the box? Or better yet does anyon have a pic?

I jumped the 2 large wires on the box to eachother, nothing. Tried batt to either connection, nothing, I'm measuring 12v at the alt but I'm assuming that was just coming from the battery?

 

[BrianDye]

Turdle, is it in one of the fuseboxes? Or on the alt?

 

[scucci]

Mega fuse photo in this thread:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=303483&highlight=175+amp+mega+fuse

There is a 7.5 amp fuse that starts the alternator through the indicator lamp, I think it is #15 in the interior fuse panel.
There is a 30 amp mini fuse in the distribution box also I think it is # 14

 

[Turdle]

sticky--this is 98 but yours should be similar--
30a fuse #14 under the hood in the power distribution panel
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180814

 

[BrianDye]

All the fuses in the fuse boxes are good, including #15. The megafuse is also good, ill have to check the light in the morning.

In the meantime...I have my solution for tomorrow morning

 

[corkey]

disconnect the battery positive wire this time, and make sure the wires don't touch anything

 

[BrianDye]

Got 'er in this morning, everything is great again

Thanks guys for your help!

 

[corkey]

little win,

not a Sheen win, but close,,

 

[BrianDye]

Charlie Sheen is his own alternator, he has a metal ass that makes contact with prongs in the seat and charges like no other.

 

[Blee1099]

I give you a few weeks before you break something else..

 

[BrianDye]

Oh yea me too; because I forgot I break things al the time?

 

[mengjin89]

Oh yea me too; because I forgot I break things al the time?

Is there a voltage regulator somewhere?

 

[philm]

Yea, inside the alternator.