Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

[tkoforpresident]

My engine started smoking as soon as i put in my new alternator, the high output one.

it had like NO power too so i quickly turned the car off and remembered i forgot to plug the electrical connector back into the Alternator!!!


F**********CK!!!!!

I'm an idiot.

Anyhow, i'm going to plug that **** back in and it's all sparkin and zappin and **** so i unplug the battery and plugged it back into the new alternator and then reconnected the battery.

Started the car, went right to 14v, lookin good. :tup:

took it out for a drive and as soon as i start to brake, or even let off the gas the volts drop steeply to 9 volts!!!

did i fry the alternator??

Is my battery bad??

when i drove it it would stay at 14 v as long as i was still moving. It had NO problem. But when u touched the brake or let off the gas the volts would start to drop.

so now i'm pissed and wondering if i accidenlty fried the alternator or maybe the alternator i got is defective, or maybe the battery is no good now, or maybe the alterantor just needs to be charged (does that even make sense?)

my friend thinks its the battery for sure,

but what do u think!!!!???

[vanbibber]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

you cant charge a alt.

and it doesnt sound like its bad since it it holding 14v. if it was bad it wouldnt do a damn thing and you'd be running soley off the battery which would eventually die.

where was it smoking from?

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

you cant charge a alt.

and it doesnt sound like its bad since it it holding 14v. if it was bad it wouldnt do a damn thing and you'd be running soley off the battery which would eventually die.

where was it smoking from?

the engine bay :( i realize that sounds dumb.

My dad said it could have been the alternator oils burning off, also the plastic connector that i forgot to plug in was resting on the exhaust header but i don't think that made it smoke.

so what we've got so far is that the alt is probably OK even after my shinanigans, so maybe it is a bad battery?

[josh98bird]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

Just take it to advance or autozone... they can tell if the alternator is dead.

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

Just take it to advance or autozone... they can tell if the alternator is dead.

i'm planning on taking it tomorrow after work.

If they think my battery is cooked i'll just get a yellow top and call it a day.

[Mogobs30th]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

Its possible the voltage regulator inside the alt is fried. When you said you connected the electrical connector, do you mean the large gauge red wire? Or the pigtail?

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

Its possible the voltage regulator inside the alt is fried. When you said you connected the electrical connector, do you mean the large gauge red wire? Or the pigtail?

i mean the pigtail. I had the zzp rewire kit hooked up to the back of the alt going to the pos. bat terminal post.

i forgot to plug in the quick connect pigtail wire thingy like u said.

u think my regulator is fried? how can i tell? what would that mean for me?

[Bonemaro]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

it means...

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

it means...

Wow. that doesn't make me feel any better. :(

i just epic failed installing something as simple as an alternator.

[Mogobs30th]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

The regulators on most new alts are within the alts, not something you can just take off and fix. Probably best to have it tested, and if it doesn't work, get a new one. Its an alternator, these things are a dime a dozen.

BTW, you don't need a HO alternator unless you have ALOT of electronics running in the car. Its overkill.

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

The regulators on most new alts are within the alts, not something you can just take off and fix. Probably best to have it tested, and if it doesn't work, get a new one. Its an alternator, these things are a dime a dozen.

BTW, you don't need a HO alternator unless you have ALOT of electronics running in the car. Its overkill.

well i've been having some voltage issues lately, figured a new alt might be the key, especially if it was a bit better than stock.

If the new alt doesn't work (when i know it is working)

i'm gonna have to keep trouble shooting.

are you saying just buy another alternator if i fried the regulator? that's 140$ down the drain if i have to get another.... :(

i'm really upset at myself here, but i'd like to get this thing fixed asap, i always seem to **** **** up one way or another. I pretty much suck at this whole car thing.

I"m going to bed cuz i haven't slept in forever, but please keep throwing ideas at me, i'll check in the morning.

[97rs4life]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

I am guessing a bad battery if you are getting 14 while in the gas

and next time use a descriptive title or I will never look into it. I only look at threads that tell me what I am opening up ;)

[landj]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

Hmmm. I think "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" was pretty descriptive given the situation.

Check your big three for melted insulation and also check the connectors for any charring. And don't sweat it, everyone makes mistakes. You know what they say, "if your mistake didn't kill you... you'll live to make another." Or is it "...you learn from it"? Whichever.

With all this electrical shananagans, I think your sig should change to something more like:

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

Hmmm. I think "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" was pretty descriptive given the situation.

Check your big three for melted insulation and also check the connectors for any charring. And don't sweat it, everyone makes mistakes. You know what they say, "if your mistake didn't kill you... you'll live to make another." Or is it "...you learn from it"? Whichever.

With all this electrical shananagans, I think your sig should change to something more like:

lol thanks man :tup:

97rs- sorry bout the title, but when i saw smoke comin out of my engine i kind of freaked out.

for what it's worth i'll take my car to advanced auto to get it checked but i'll more than likely jus buy a new battery.

btw, any reason why my battery is acting ****ty now that my new alternator is in??

[Smoke Panther]

Re: Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

btw, any reason why my battery is acting ****ty now that my new alternator is in??

bad alternators mess up batteries