Overtightening Alternator Pulley

[MachAzure]

This weekend I put back on my stock alternator pulley to see if my volts would go up at idle.

Well, I accidently droppend a wrench between the two battery posts and it sparked really bad. When I drove it today, the volts stayed around 9 or 10 the whole time.

My Chevy buddy told me I could have overtightened the alternator pulley with my electric impact wrench and ruined the internals of the alternator.

Well, I tried starting it again and it would not start so I switched in a different battery and put back on the underdrive pulley and everything is good. Could it be the battery just crapped on me? For a few days before the interior lights had been rather dim.

Is it possible to screw up the alternator by overtightening?

Thanks,

BTW- I will have my battery load tested tommorow.

 

[daver01]

i have never heard of that. as tight as it is on there from the factory, i kinda doubt it too. maybe if u like had a breaker bar and wailed on it, but not with an electric impact.

maybe u just shorted out your batt. that'd be my guesstimate.

 

[GTblack_00]

I would have to say unless you have a nice optima or other deep cycle battery that you fried your battery. A wrench in the works can draw much more current than the plates in most batteries can withstand.

 

[mhissticobra]

I'd say you shorted your battery as well

 

[husun]

yea, i dont see how it is even possible to overtighten it as it would just spin freely less the resistance of the belt.