What did I do this time? Electrical gurus help!

[CManT1914]

Okay so I burned up my alternator cable a few weeks ago. I bought a new voltage regulator and voltage regulator plug and stator plug and ring terminal. Put those on. Today I just hooked up the negative battery terminal, the positive started sparking and smoking, and now I have no juice. I checked all the clear fuses in the power distribution box, and they're all good, but I got nothing. What happened? I can't STAND electrical work!!

 

[mo_dingo]

Okay so I burned up my alternator cable a few weeks ago. I bought a new voltage regulator and voltage regulator plug and stator plug and ring terminal. Put those on. Today I just hooked up the negative battery terminal, the positive started sparking and smoking, and now I have no juice. I checked all the clear fuses in the power distribution box, and they're all good, but I got nothing. What happened? I can't STAND electrical work!!

Recheck the things that you replaced first. If everything is as it should be, make sure the positive clamp is not loose or corroded inside. Clean it out and reconnect it. Maybe it was just loose......

Unless you hooked up your battery backwards.....look things over again. Take your time, be patient, and 3x check everything.
Scott

 

[HISSIN50]

Chris, the car's entire electrical system is dead?

I know you were planning on it, but did you get the alt bench tested. A short in the windings can cause issues, as can a bad diode (if your battery was nearly dead beforehand for no reason).

Good luck man.

 

[CManT1914]

Recheck the things that you replaced first. If everything is as it should be, make sure the positive clamp is not loose or corroded inside. Clean it out and reconnect it. Maybe it was just loose......

Unless you hooked up your battery backwards.....look things over again. Take your time, be patient, and 3x check everything.
Scott

I'll check everything again tomorrow. I just replaced the terminals about a year ago, I wouldn't think I would have to do them again.

Chris, the car's entire electrical system is dead?

I know you were planning on it, but did you get the alt bench tested. A short in the windings can cause issues, as can a bad diode (if your battery was nearly dead beforehand for no reason).

Good luck man.

JT, there is no juice anywhere, not even the hood light comes on. A friend of mine said I might have fried the battery when the regulator blew. No, I never did get the alternator tested, I kept meaning to, but I could never get a truck to go down there with it (it's a little heavy to carry on the bike, lol).

 

[Pokageek]

Can you try a battery from another car just to see if the hood light comes on or something inthe meantime?

 

[CManT1914]

I found my short. The ring terminal on the alternator cable was grounded out on the alternator housing. So I put some plastic washers between the terminal and the housing, but I still have no power. I'm gonna check all my fuses and see if I blew any.

Can you try a battery from another car just to see if the hood light comes on or something inthe meantime?

Possibly. I might try that sometime this week. My mom's truck has a brand new battery.