My alternator wire burned completely off!
#1
My alternator wire burned completely off!
the wire on the alternator that goes to the battery is burned off at the connection with the alternator?
Time for a new alternator?
or
Time for the 'big 3 or 4' wire upgrade?
All the above?
Time for a new alternator?
or
Time for the 'big 3 or 4' wire upgrade?
All the above?
Last edited by OSIRIS; 10-24-2006 at 01:13 PM.
#2
Contributing Member
Sounds like a lot of current was getting pulled... were you running a lot of accessories, or do you have a short somewhere? Big 3 Upgrade could be an option, but you should figure out what CAUSED this first...
#4
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probably was a poor connection, got a little corrosion, resistance of connection got higher, resulting in more heat, resulting in faster corrosion, heat, corrosion, heat, corrosion, until it was all over. Probably worst right after startup when alt output was high to recharge the batt.
#5
Ok so, for the wire to fry itself at the base of the alternator that is a sign of current being pulled out of the alternator? I do not think it was the regulator frying and causing too much voltage to flow because I would have seen that on the meter in the car and did not, so I think you are on the right track that it was current. Having a bad ground would cause more current to be pulled?
She runs fine, no sputter with this problem.
Thanks for your help.
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poor ground=less current.
batt light was coming on because the connect was so wasted the batt was not getting sufficient charge from the alt anymore. Unless you have a batt with internal plates shorted, there was no over current condition. the stock allt can oly put out 65 amps anyway.
batt light was coming on because the connect was so wasted the batt was not getting sufficient charge from the alt anymore. Unless you have a batt with internal plates shorted, there was no over current condition. the stock allt can oly put out 65 amps anyway.
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#8
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because any current across a resistance make s heat. If you had a poor connection, there's some finite resistance there. That resistive connection probably got hot. Heat increases chemical processes, including corrosion. You can see the "vicious cycle" emerging here. FWIW even just 10 amps will generate some serious heat across even a relatively small resistance.
#9
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Usually poor connections cause a certain degree of arcing, depending on the amperage and voltage of the circuit. The arching usually melts the insulation (and sometimes the wire) and chars the connection.
#10
Not the alt-battery wire, ....
Is this the alternator ground wire? I assumed it was so, because what else would be grounded there? And if it is, should I assume that the battery is fine, and just replace the wire in question?
Thanks,
Shane
#11
Contributing Member
On my truck, a '94 4X4 Auto Trans, the wire from the alternator to ground (terminates on alternator mounting frame above) burned this morning, during a failing attempt to start. It would turn over very sluggishly, then not. I happened to peek out the front, and I saw smoke coming out of the driver side front of the hood. Of course I was suspicious, knowing that the battery is on the other side, so I got out and looked. The wire that is fastened to the adjustable mount for the alternator and goes down into the loom directly below the steering knuckle boot was fried.
Is this the alternator ground wire? I assumed it was so, because what else would be grounded there? And if it is, should I assume that the battery is fine, and just replace the wire in question?
Thanks,
Shane
Is this the alternator ground wire? I assumed it was so, because what else would be grounded there? And if it is, should I assume that the battery is fine, and just replace the wire in question?
Thanks,
Shane
A pic might help. Was the connection loose maybe?
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