65 coupe, rewire complete... now smoke.

Navyflyer72

Member
Mar 24, 2018
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Ok, after starting with a headlight harness, then taillight harness, I the realized I needed a new dash harness after I cut out an old alarm system anPO had installed, probably in the 80’s.

Tried to install a 1-wire hi amp alternator, but it was too deep for my brackets and so I returned it, ordered another and while I was waiting I reinstalled the old alternator to test my new wiring.

As soon as I touched the battery negative terminal with the ground cable, sparks, and the a pop noise and hiss as a wire behind the old alternator smokechecked one of the wires in the alternator harness.

Upon looking at the harness I noticed that it was the Black/Yellow that is supposed to be the test pigtail, but I had wired it direct to the Batt+.

I should note that the PO installed an easily 90’s F1SA Ford Remanufactured carbureted 302, that has the new style starter with start relay/solenoid on the starter, and the PO had deleted the starter solenoid. So when I reinstalled my old alternator after the 1-wire didn’t fit, I ran the solid yellow coming from the headlight harness, straight to the side post positive side of the battery. But then. Dumb me ran a piece of 10-12 gauge from the black/yellow test lead on the back of the alternator, straight to the top post positive side of the battery.

After it burnt through, I cut that wire completely and re-attached the battery negative with no sparks, got in, put key in and went to Accessory and run/on and go nothing...

I checked all the fuses, none blown. Where should I start trouble shooting?
 

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Last edited:
You could have cooked the solenoid/relay, the battery or even the ignition switch. If you haven't done so then I would first check the battery.
Second try to jump the relay to see if it will kick the starter over (make sure its in neutral if its stick shift). Then I would move to testing the ignition switch.
 
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