Electrical Issue
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 20
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Electrical Issue
Hey gentlemen,
If there's one thing I suck with on cars, it's the electrical system. While cleaning the motor, my arm slipped and I yanked the wire shown in the picture off that is connected to my alternator off and it made a huge spark when it rubbed up against something. Now my car doesn't receive any power to anything. The clock isn't working, it won't begin to turn or anything. It's as if the battery was unplugged. What could have happened?
If there's one thing I suck with on cars, it's the electrical system. While cleaning the motor, my arm slipped and I yanked the wire shown in the picture off that is connected to my alternator off and it made a huge spark when it rubbed up against something. Now my car doesn't receive any power to anything. The clock isn't working, it won't begin to turn or anything. It's as if the battery was unplugged. What could have happened?
Last edited by vetteguy79; Mar 23, 2012 at 06:11 PM. Reason: Add pic
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
You likely fried a 'fusible link' in the harness wiring. There is one embedded in the 24awg BRN/W (brown/white) wire from the "top" connector on the alternator. There are also a couple more in the wiring coming off the bottom of the horn relay (left/front inner fender area). You won't be able to see a fried fusible link; the wire internal to the link is melted inside of the "fireproof" insulation material. But, that fuse-link will no longer conduct electricity.
Fusible links are the "last resort" of the electrical system to protect itself from unexpected component internal failures or (more often...as in your case) human error.
Damaged fusible links should be replaced with appropriate replacement fusible links. DO NOT substitute a piece of wire for a fuse-link; there is a good reason for them being there. For instance, if the fuse-link that [probably] failed in your "incident" had not done so....your engine compartment would likely have caught fire. 
Fusible links are the "last resort" of the electrical system to protect itself from unexpected component internal failures or (more often...as in your case) human error.
Damaged fusible links should be replaced with appropriate replacement fusible links. DO NOT substitute a piece of wire for a fuse-link; there is a good reason for them being there. For instance, if the fuse-link that [probably] failed in your "incident" had not done so....your engine compartment would likely have caught fire.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Thank you very much for your detailed response. I'm guessing you mean this wire that I've pointed to in the new pic? If so, where along the wire would the fusible link be located? I will definitely make an appropriate replacement.
