Car has no power when off

[CHINA1G]

I had to fix an exhaust leak at the O2 housing today. And while this was going on I touched the alt. with a wrench. It trhew some sparks. Got in the car and the door light wasnt on gauge light wont turn on Pretty much anything that should work without the key in the ignition didnt. But as soon as you turn the car on BAM everything works,unless you want to here some tunes because the radio will cut of if you push in the clutch. I figure its not the alt. and or battarey because i can drive the car and it wont die. Any help would be nice.

P.S. I have checked everthing I can think of and cant figure it out. I replaced the 80a relay for the alt. and that did nothing.

 

[Blurred Talon]

Check all the fuses and relays first.

 

[CHINA1G]

I have completly went threw every switch,fuse,relay. Im going to autozone to get the battery checked I hope thats the problem. maybe the battery only has a little juice in it.

 

[tmaxx411]

I had the EXACT same problem. Ended up being the alternator fuse. It didnt look blown, until you took it out of the fuse box. Its only 3 bucks or so.

 

[tcbikerguy6]

This is why the first step to any repair is disconnect the battery. I think autozone has a machine when they test your battery that will see if you fried your alternator. Good luck.

 

[CHINA1G]

I replaced the 80a relay for the alt. and that did nothing.

The battery checked out at 94% charge....

If you fried my alt. would my car drive around 10 miles and still crank just fine? I dont think it would make it 500ft without dieing...

 

[Blurred Talon]

You'd be surprised. I drove my car for several hours after the alt died on nothing but battery power.

 

[miguelmcv]

Your problem is more like a BLOWN FUSE.

Don't just check them.

Take them off and see how they are.

I have replaced some, that, They looks good, But, Once I take them off, BOOM, I can see how bad they are.

 

[CHINA1G]

So I should be able to test my battery in a hour or two and see a decrease in voltage and charge ?

 

[miguelmcv]

You'd be surprised. I drove my car for several hours after the alt died on nothing but battery power.

I drove mine for one Hour and a Half, and had to buy 1 battery to make it to my house, which was Hour and a half away from home (after my first battery died).

This was in my Yellow Top Battery.

I think that I would off drive it at least 2 Hours, But, the night came and I had to use My Head Lights.

 

[CHINA1G]

Your problem is more like a BLOWN FUSE.

Don't just check them.

Take them off and see how they are.

I have replaced some, that, They looks good, But, Once I take them off, BOOM, I can see how bad they are.

I have literally taken them out and inspected them ALL. Even the A/C fuses

 

[miguelmcv]

I have literally taken them out and inspected them ALL. Even the A/C fuses

If you have all ready done that, Then.

Check and Clean all the ground, Terminals and all the spots where there terminals Attaches to.

Battery, Tranny and Fire Wall.

A bad Connection can cause your problem.

 

[jtmcinder]

I have literally taken them out and inspected them ALL. Even the A/C fuses

Visual inspection or checked for continuity between the blades?

 

[CHINA1G]

I dont see what a ground has to do with me tapping the alternator with a wrench. I didnt mess with any grounds,and it just started today AFTER I fixed an exhaust leak.

 

[mchustle]

Well the reason it sparked is because you GROUNDED out the alt , with that said if all fuses, relays, and alt is ok then you might have fried a ground wire like said above.

 

[CHINA1G]

Ok I understand that. well looks like im looking for a ground wire hahah. I know the one for the battery is good Ill check the alt. one.

I'm leaning more to a fried alt. Because now when I turn on my lights my radio turns off and my in car lights blink once so yea f me

 

[solson1041]

Like someone said, did you visually inspect the fuses? or check their continuity? That's about the easiest fix option you've got in this situation. Especially when someone said it fixed their exact same problem. Use a multimeter and see if you've got an open in any of your fuses.

Unless you have, in which case, my apologies good sir and best of luck.

Like someone said, did you visually inspect the fuses? or check their continuity? That's about the easiest fix option you've got in this situation. Especially when someone said it fixed their exact same problem. Use a multimeter and see if you've got an open in any of your fuses.

Unless you have, in which case, my apologies good sir and best of luck.

 

[CHINA1G]

Alright I have not used a moltimeter to check all the fuse's, just visual. the one I am concerned with is the big black alt. fuse on the upper left side of the panel. I dont now how to check that one and its like a 10 dollar fuse,I just dot want to waste money. Since the last post I have ran my car with lights on and off, turning the radio on/off and cant get the battery charge to drop. I'm so lost right now its not even funny.

 

[solson1041]

Fuses are tricky man, visuals don't always tell you. Plus, 10 dollars is probably going to be much cheaper than any other repair that could be causing this.

Hope it goes well for you.

 

[tcbikerguy6]

So I should be able to test my battery in a hour or two and see a decrease in voltage and charge ?

Just pull the ground off of the battery when your engine is running and if it dies your alternator is junk. If it keeps running it should be fine. I think you are just missing a fuse somewhere down the line though.

 

[AG 305]

exactly the same thing that happen to me once. while wrenching i hit the alt and it sparked like crazy. my fix was the alt fuse

 

[solson1041]

Fuses are tricky man, visuals don't always tell you. Plus, 10 dollars is probably going to be much cheaper than any other repair that could be causing this.

Hope it goes well for you.

 

[obsidian]

replace the alternator fuse with the one from the rear defroster and see what happens.

 

[ILL122]

If your ever at a salvaqe yard stock up on fuses just in case something like this happens. I have like 15 of those $10.00 fuses. Most of the time they dont charge you for them.

 

[1gdsmftw]

It has probably been said but here it goes.

Sometimes if you had hit the alternator While it is being fed a charge you can actually do damage to the voltage regulator. Chances are the alternator is still charging but at a bare minimum charge. The regulator may be compromised or the diodes in it may be hanging by a string. My biggest suggestion would be to pull the alternator off of the car and bring it into autozone and have them hook it up to the duratester. Make sure they test it 3 times in a row because the alt may pass the first couple times but an alternator will only show its true colors after warming up!

Just pull the ground off of the battery when your engine is running and if it dies your alternator is junk. If it keeps running it should be fine. I think you are just missing a fuse somewhere down the line though.

Problem with this theory is with cars powered now by computers when you remove the terminals while the car is running you risk frying our already tempermental ecu's