I washed my engine today - as it was quite muddy. Later this evening my battery was dead. I hooked up my trickle charger to the battery and set it to 12 volts 2 amps. About 5 minutes later the alternator began to smoke and I immediately removed the charger; it smelled of burning plastic. I know the charger is not to blame and I have used it several times before on this same vehicle. Could getting the alternator wet have something to do with it? Any ideas as to why the alternator would smoke?

 

a short some where .
i had an amp make my alt smoke once took the amp off no moor problems at all
but washing the alt will make it steam when it is hot


tell me moor bought your tuck
audio and suff lights things like that

 

Wow , I've never seen that one. That would be ........shocking.

 

Electrically it is stock aside from two amps I have installed. I will disconnect them in the morning and see what happens. Thanks for the information.

 

Alternators do not like getting wet. You should never spray-wash your engine bay without at least removing or covering your major electrical components (ie battery, alt, fuse box). Underhood electrical is very sensitive to water. I've seen ruined distributors, spark plugs and wires, and definitely alternators because of open hoods in the rain.

 

I let everything dry overnight and disconnected my two amps; so far it is charging and no smoking alternator!

 

Yep, i fried the alternater. I replaced it today and everything is back to normal.

 

at least u got it fixed