Electrical Fuse Box Help Needed!!! Possible Alt. Problem!!

[BoostedinSoFla]

So this morning I got to work and accidentally left my headlights on. I went out to lunch and the battery was dead. So I got a jump from a buddy, the car started up and then it died about 20 sec later. I'm thinking my Alt is done. I borrowed a battery (almost new) and made it home on battery power only. When I got home I disconnected the positive terminal from the battery to see if it would run and it died right away.

Now after purchasing a new Alt. I decided to check the connections and just check the general wiring from the fuse box and I noticed that there are two wires to the far left of the fuse box that loop up and over and one is burnt (probably have been like that before, I'm not sure). It is melted and split in two pieces. Could this be the problem? Could there be something else wrong and not the Alt to be the problem? What are these wires for? Sorry I don't have a pic but I wanna check some stuff out first before I install the Alt that I paid $200 for in case I can return it.

 

[absolute_DSM]

Are the wires thicker white wires?

A pic would be great.

There are 2 of those that come from the alternator to battery and 2 that give power to the fuse box.

 

[BoostedinSoFla]

I just took some pics just now. Uploading them as we speak. Among that the car might have other probs. I noticed that the headlights and fog lights stay on unless I pull the 40A headlamp fuse. THIS IS WITH THE SWITCH INSIDE THE CAR IN THE OFF POSITION. WTFWTF
Guys I'm not good with electrical problems so please help me out, this is my DD.

 

[knochgoon24]

I find it odd that this all started b/c you left your headlights on.

 

[BoostedinSoFla]

I find it odd that this all started b/c you left your headlights on.

Yeah, I'm thinking that there was an underlying problem or I wasn't paying enough attention to the fuse box. My next post will show what I'm talking about.

 

[BoostedinSoFla]

This shit could've possibly caught my engine bay on fire. Now what is this wire? Is it coming from the Alt.? How can I get it replaced?

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New Alt.

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Lights are on but switch is turned OFF!

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[absolute_DSM]

Holy cow, your fuse box did catch a small fire. You have a very bad short there.

Looks like someone removed the fuse and used a piece of wire "as the fuse". Then it ran way too high of amps and started it on fire. Wow.

 

[BoostedinSoFla]

Just noticed something fcuking missing here. I feel stupid for not paying attn to this before. The 60A (FSBL) and 100A (ALT) is missing to the far left. Anybody have a pic of their fuse box they can put up?

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[absolute_DSM]

Haha yea you have a few things missing in that fuse box.

Im not sure how your car runs without a fuse for your alternator.

 

[snowborder714]

It seems you're also missing your 40A HEAD LGT in the left center. Not sure if that would have anything to do with your headlights though.

Here's a picture of my fuse box.

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But the first fuse box cover I had on looks different from the diagram you posted. The one I have now is almost exactly the same as the diagram, except it doesn't have the 30A TOP on the cover.

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[BoostedinSoFla]

I had to remove the headlight fuse for the damn thing to shut off. It looks as if my fuse box should look like the one in your first pic. I'm thinking the previous owner replaced the 100A alternator fuse with this wire setup (for some strange reason) and it burnt to shit. Should I just get a new piece of wire and reconnect it cause it kinda looks like it's melted to the point where I won't be able to put a new 100A fuse in there and might need to get a new fuse box. *sigh*

Any other close up pics of the upper left area of the fuse box snowborder714?

 

[snowborder714]

Nope, sorry. But if you let us know what you want specifically, I can either have some taken tomorrow or someone else might be able to help.

 

[meliketoball]

I never knew you can replace a WHOLE fuse box..but umm check the alternator 100amp fuse.

 

[BoostedinSoFla]

I replaced the fuses earlier today guys, turns out I didn't need the alternator. Saved myself $200. The guy that had the car before me apparently just bridged the connection with a piece of wire instead of running to the auto parts store and picking up a couple $2 fuses. Car runs fine now, thanks guys.

I still haven't reinstalled the headlight and fog lamp fuses but I'll do it later and hopefully it solves the problem with that.

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[snowborder714]

Glad to hear you fixed it! Stupid previous owners and ghetto-rigging stuff...

 

[knochgoon24]

That's one of the most dangerous rigs I've ever seen.

 

[absolute_DSM]

Glad to hear you fixed it! Stupid previous owners and ghetto-rigging stuff...

x2, glad it didnt melt anything important.

 

[Ice Racer]

I had the same problem earlier this week. Tearing my hair out testing the alternator, wiring harness, etc. Just turned out to be that blown 100A fuse. You're so lucky it didn't cause more problems and you were even able to retain the original mounting points.

 

[BoostedinSoFla]

You're so lucky it didn't cause more problems and you were even able to retain the original mounting points.

Yeah, this morning when I got up I was hoping that it wasn't melted to the point where I couldn't install the new fuses but I cleaned up the area pretty well and installed them.

 

[turboAWDfanatic]

Glad you fixed it, but I hope that whatever issue was causing the PO's fuse to blow doesn't still exist. Usually people rig it like that when they keep *blowing* fuses, due to a larger problem, rather than it being the fact that they're too cheap to replace a $2 fuse. If the fuse you put in blows, then I'd either recommend having a shop diagnose the larger problem, or drop in the new alternator and a new fuse and see if that fixes it.

 

[MrKelly]

looks like someone couldnt find the right fuse before you had it. your lucky it didnt melt down the harness like that. looks alot better when you got done

 

[04bls84]

All I have to say is WOW!! I've seen some dumb stuff but that's really dumb. But it looks a lot better now. And the headlight problem is fixed or still does it??

 

[Auto RS T]

I just bought a 1994 eclipse gs or rs? not sure, its the 1.8 liter ( i know i shoulda got a GSX) but anyway, i noticed that the break lights wont come on, i checked and changed burnt out fuses, and just got done change the brake light switch and they still wont come on. my turn signal lights come on and so do the tail lights.. its just my brake lights wont work. bulbs look fine too. but i noticed there seems to be a good number of fuses missing on both fuse boxes. can anyone send me a link to a diagram for the fuses on a 1994 eclipse 1.8 lt.? also if you have any other input on why my brake lights arnt working please let me know. thanks guys!

Appreciate you searching for the answers, but please don't make two of the same post in the future.

Have you checked the brake light switch?

looks like someone couldnt find the right fuse before you had it. your lucky it didnt melt down the harness like that. looks alot better when you got done

All I have to say is WOW!! I've seen some dumb stuff but that's really dumb. But it looks a lot better now. And the headlight problem is fixed or still does it??

That happened almost 3 years ago guys. I don't think Ricky even has this car anymore...

 

[DirtyDSMDan]

you should do a resistance check on the battery feedback cable from the alternator. should have about .01ohms. and do as much of a visual check as you can. another thing is to check your parasitic draw, should be around 1/2 a volt (do a voltage reading across the battery with everything off) if you have more than that, start looking for things that are running, or maybe a short in the wire

 

[miguelmcv]

I had to remove the headlight fuse for the damn thing to shut off. It looks as if my fuse box should look like the one in your first pic. I'm thinking the previous owner replaced the 100A alternator fuse with this wire setup (for some strange reason) and it burnt to shit. Should I just get a new piece of wire and reconnect it cause it kinda looks like it's melted to the point where I won't be able to put a new 100A fuse in there and might need to get a new fuse box. *sigh*

Any other close up pics of the upper left area of the fuse box snowborder714?

There are two kind of fuse box.

Both fuse box pics are inserted all ready.

One fuse box has both fuses on the left, (Alternator Fuse and Secondary Fuse box).
This secondary Fuse box is inside the Car (Clutch pedal side).

I have both Fuse boxes.

If you are not able to put the fuse back in place, Then use the next fuse location (right side).

All what you have to do is.
unbolt the Fuse box, and move the Alternator Wire (white wire), to the other location,,,,, Put a new Fuse, and you are set.