So I went to take out my alternator. I was distracted by talking to the wife, pulled the plug of the rear, went to wrench the wire off the top of the alt and "spark"...grounded it out. Forgot to disconnect the battery. Now nothing works. No lights, nothin. I assume I didn't fry my ECU cause this is more a symptom of a fuse, but I can't find any fuse blown that would be related. Nothing in the book either explaining "complete deadness". I assume there us a in line fuse somewhere. Anyone know where?

 

It's either under the hood (most likely), or you have burned up the fusible link that comes from the battery and supplies the fuse boxes with power.

 

well on a 3rd gen pu, on the passenger side under the hood in the large black fuse box, there's an alternator fuse at the back; 80amp for a 4cyl, and 100 for a 6cyl

you probably popped that guy

note that you have to pretty much disassymble the fuse box to remove it, cause it's held in with two bolts, that requires you to first unbolt the box from the inner fender, pop it open, push the block through the bottom that holds the fuse, and then remove the two bolts to slide the fuse out

only reason I know is because I had to put a higher amp fuse in my 91 when I upgraded the alt

 

Check the fuses by the battery. I've done the same thing, my truck still works!! LOL!!!

 

Thats what I thought too, but the fuses look intact, they are those see through ones. Just for the heck of it, I disconnected both terminals of the battery, waited 30 secs hooked them back up and I had the dash ligths and buzz for a sec, then it died again. Tried to disconnect both terminals to repeat but nothing this time. Relay maybe? Do the 80 amp fuses blow but look good by visual inspection? God I hate elctrical issues. Stupid me for not disconnecitng the damn battery!!

 

Thanks for the re-assurance, I was pretty worried I fried something big $$$ like the ecu.

 

Any thoughts about relays as an issue?

 

where is the fusable link?

 

I'd check all the fuses before I'd worry about relays.

 

ok, so just for giggles I disconnected both terminals and waited five minutes. Hooked them back up, she slowly turned over with a dull check engine light..died,....turned the key again, same thing,..... then it kicked in and started up, ran without check engine light. Repeated several times without problem. Now I'm back to the original problem of charge and brake light on. I read that it most likely the brushes. Is there a triode on these? Should I do a entire rebuild kit or have most people been ok with just replacing the brushes. I have 185,000 miles on the original alt. Wires all look good.

 

80A fusible link, AutoZone has them for $2 or so.
Get a couple.



That's what blew on my rig when the fuse box got wet.

You have to pull the entire thing out of the fuse box and then undo two screws on either side of the link before it will come out.
I shattered my stock one with a set of pliers and frustration.

Here's what it screws into, this slides up into the right side of the fuse box.



Good luck!

Fink

 

Thanks for the quality pics. I am going to pick a couple of those up to have for spares. Good to know about it being screwed in there. I could see myself going caveman on it with a pair of pliers!

 

I blew mine to bits.
I was pissed.

All it took was a calm text message to a very wise Wabbit and he then learnt onto me the wisdom in which he had already acquired.
30 seconds later it was out and I was at AutoZone.

Good luck.

Fink

 

lol, yep. I could totally see myself doing the same.

After reading some other posts from searching. I think I am going to go with a reman alt from toyota. They are 199.00. From what I could find, it appears that the slip rings in my year vehicle are bronz and not stainless steel like the early eighties models. This appearently results in low quality contact and loss in voltage even with the new brushes. I figure 185,000 miles on the original is good enough. Me and the wife are goint to the adirondacks in few weeks and I would feel stupid if the alt died again. Might as well pay for sense of security.

 

lmao, how do you think I discovered that it was bolted in! that's exeactly what I did

 

I have tried farting with that fuse and was always worried out damaging it. Now I know NOT to rip it out!! LOL!!