Replaced alternator, sparks when trying to jump.

[ESi1995]

420a non-turbo.


Battery wasn't being re-charged by the old alternator so we replaced it with a used one from Millers last night.

It's in and connected, triple checked everything. Now, we're getting a fireworks display when trying to jump the battery because it's dead. This didn't happen before.

My girlfriend's dad said to charge the battery and hook it up, see if it'll start, and if it does and doesn't die, it's a short somewhere. If it starts and dies, then it could be a bad alternator. Does this logic sound right? I don't want to blow anything.

Also said to take the old alternator in to get it checked to make sure it actually was the alternator causing the problem. Should I do this first? Before trying to start the car?

Thanks!

 

[95redturboawd]

Are you blowing the alternator fuse when this happens?

 

[ESi1995]

Are you blowing the alternator fuse when this happens?

Not sure? I've not checked any fuses and that thought hasn't even came to mind. Where's the alternator fuse located?

 

[Fotowntalon]

autozone checks alternators and battery's for free. Start by taking them both in and checking them, problem should be one of those, if not check your grounds, a bad ground will drain a battery.

 

[ESi1995]

autozone checks alternators and battery's for free. Start by taking them both in and checking them, problem should be one of those, if not check your grounds, a bad ground will drain a battery.

But what could be causing the sparks when we try to connect it to another car?

 

[ESi1995]

Are you blowing the alternator fuse when this happens?

The alternator choke fuse was blown, replaced it. The positive battery terminal was junked up, had wires webbing out of it. Cleaned the wires up and put a new terminal on it.

Now, I'm not getting sparks from the positive but from the negative and even just trying to connect it made something smoke from the passenger side area of the engine bay.

Tested the battery, it's fine. Tested my old alternator, it's dead. Have yet to test the one we just installed but the sparking issue wasn't there before the new alternator was put in.

 

[95redturboawd]

Double check that you put the little insulator piece back on the bolt on the alternator where you attach the power wire.

 

[brandonwh64]

You probably have something on the passenger side grounding out, that's probably what killed your first alternator. Try to locate the short and fix it