SMOKE FROM ALTERNATOR

[dbizzay]

Hey everyone,

Jumped in ym car after work today, fired it up and noticed the voltage was pretty low, not uncommon with my alternator pulley. Drove it home and the voltage stayed low, til the car eventually ran out of juice. Smelled something funny (almost like a firecracker), popped the hood and my alternator was smoking.

I'm replacing the alternator, is there anything else I should check before hitting the road again?

Thanks,
Derek

 

[HISSIN50]

first thing i would check (i would give it a once over) would be the fusible link for the charging system. why did the alt fail? i would determine that before tossing a new one in.

good luck.

 

[dbizzay]

Where is the fuseable link?

 

[HISSIN50]

Where is the fuseable link?

just off the starter solenoid (with all the others). also check the wiring connector on the back of the alternator.

 

[HISSIN50]

these two schematics might help. the first has the charging system and the second has fusebox info with fusible link info on the lower right section.

http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/fuel-alt-links-ign-ac.gif

http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/MustangFuseBox.gif

good luck.

 

[dbizzay]

these two schematics might help. the first has the charging system and the second has fusebox info with fusible link info on the lower right section.

http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/fuel-alt-links-ign-ac.gif

http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/MustangFuseBox.gif

good luck.

AWESOME diagrams!! Checked the wiring, links etc, all seems to be in check, nothing melted. The alternator was getting old (at least 4 years, never replaced by me or previous owner), so I have to chalk it up to that!