How dumb can one be? What next? Help!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
How dumb can one be? What next? Help!!
How dumb can one be? I hooked up my inductive timing light positive lead to hot side of my altenator and the negative lead to ground. However I did this with the engine off. When I attempted to start the vehicle I see that puff of smoke accompined with a burnt smell coming from the area of the starter. Uh oh.... Now nothing in my vehicle operates, no lights, radio, nothing. I grabbed my test light to see if I get power to the fuses....they checked out but once again nothing in the vehicle operates?? Again....How dumb can one be?
Did I possibly ruin the entire electrical system or just the starter harness along with the starter??? Help!!!!, Help!!!!!!, and Help!!!!!!!
Did I possibly ruin the entire electrical system or just the starter harness along with the starter??? Help!!!!, Help!!!!!!, and Help!!!!!!!
Last edited by Oldguard 7; Apr 27, 2006 at 03:17 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 119
From: St. Charles Mo
CI 5 & 8 Veteran
No ...you probably only toasted your fuzable link down by the starter. Hooking up a timing light like you discribe should not have caused any damage??? Unless you had the positive timing light clip shorting the alt. output terminal to alt. case ground????
Bullshark
Bullshark
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 258
Likes: 2
From: Boise ID
I agree with Bullshark, I didn't see anything wrong with your setup the way you describe it. That's how I run my timing light too.
Check the fusible link, you can get new ones at any auto parts store.
Dan
Check the fusible link, you can get new ones at any auto parts store.
Dan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
ya have to be carefull with that stud on the back of the alt, more specifically with the red insulator, its easy to short the thing. Fuseable link is burnt, not a big deal, except for tracking down a new one.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
This is how I connect my timing light every time. Keep in mind, I have reclocked my alternator. But you can see that it is easy for you to get the positive into the casing and cause a ground.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
From the concensus it appears that I only burnt up the fuse links. I notice these fuse links appear to be of hard plastic similiar to a tootsie roll. Are these old stlye fuse links, i know fuse links on newer vehicles they appear swollen when blown. So it appears that I will not need any new harnesses or starter/altenator. can anyone post other pics of other locations where I can hook up my timing light? I just no longer trust that location anymore.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 427
Likes: 0
From: Cary Illinois
I did the same thing (almost) last week. It turned out that I blew the fusible links down by the starter when I attempted to rebuild my alternator and ended up with a dead short. I rewired and once I got the starter hooked up correctly, I was back in business.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
on a car with the battery remoted from the engine bay, I have put in a term block like the ones MAD recommends under the hood, usually on the drivers side fender well just to have a convinient place to pick up 12v. It works and is a same place. Use a #10 wire and 30a fuse and your good to go
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
before i discovered the alternator I followed the instructions that came with the timing light: They said to connect it to the battery. I needed long jumper cables to reach the battery, but that's what I did!! 
I have an even dumber timing light story if you are interetsted....
I have an even dumber timing light story if you are interetsted....
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Western Burbs of Chicago Illinois
I bought a self-powered timing light. It takes two D-cell batteries. I didn't want to deal with the issue of "How do I connect this thing with the battery all the way back there?"