Whoops!! Alternator and Wires

[John 727]

Okay...I made a mistake. Racing to get an old alternator out and a new one in, I forgot to disconnect the battery. The rest of the story is why I am writing this. Sparks, smoke and destroyed wire. I put in the new alternator and new positive battery cables. The battery cable from the battery to the "solenoid" was the only obvious damage. I have been told that this is a solenoid or voltage regulator(the round device on the inner fender {1993 XLT}) and after putting in the alternator and wires I was able to start the vehicle. I drove around with my stereo on and the battery died...ABS light came on and the stereo was silent (the deck remained powered but the direct battery connected amp lost power). My Explorer still was running, but the battery gauge was DOWN. Any ideas? Alternator wires? What else did I ruin? Thanks for any help.

 

[Ru Dawg]

OUCH!!!

I hate to say this man, but you could have damaged that new alernator and/or the voltage regulator. Got a Haynes manual and a Voltmeter? I don't remember the procedure and I'm at work now, but there's a way to test it. It sounds like you either fried the new alternator windings or maybe some diodes in the voltage regulator. Sorry to hear this man...good luck!

[Edited by Ru Dawg on 09-06-2000 at 10:38 PM]