HELP!! Smoke from Alternator

[benefitx]

everytime i try to start my car i hear the starter pinion kick out then a loud whining sound...motor doesnt turn over at all....then i see smoke coming from the alternator...

the wire which was really hot was the smallest wire that goes onto the back of the alternator onto a small screw...not the one that bolts to the stud.


i dont get it...

[projectRDM]

There's no other ground on the block apparently, so you're trying to ground the entire drivetrain through the alternator ground. Which as you've noticed is way too small and offers too much resistance.

[benefitx]

but the engine is also grounded on the intake manifold/head thing...but its not tight...maybe i should tighten it...

[benefitx]

ok well i tightened that ground too...and same thing happens

[benefitx]

anyone else?

[chmercer]

Check your neg battery cable? err.

[Kaotik25]

If you have time, i say remove the alternator and take it to Kragen for a free check up. This serves two purposes: 1. you get a good visual and mechanical inspection of your alternator. 2. gives u a chance to tighten and indicate any bad wires (i.e burnt, cracked, wires crossing)

This is what i did to my alternator when i gave out. It's a pretty easy job; get some beer*, some jerky, and a saturday.

*don't drink and drive.

[benefitx]

but it should still crank over even with a bad alternator right?

[Kn1ves]

yes it should still crank, but once it switches from the battery and the starter to the alternator.. then it'll most likely smoke again. you also run the risk of messing up ur battery.

[DJ_Sunrise]

As long as the battery has voltage of some sort to power the starter.. yes, the engine will crank, and start. Or should anyway. Alternator only charges the battery.. Our standard batteries should be able to run a car for 2ish hrs without failure. If the engine does not turn over but you hear the loud ass high pitched spinning of something coming from you starter.. than the gear isn't "firing" towards the flywheel.. AKA= no turn over. Pop out the starter and take it to a local autozone or something to get it tested.

-Bart

[RedtopTech]

for the whining noise replace the starter and inspect the flywheel drive teeth though the starter hole. after that use a multimeter and check amperage draw while cranking. if the draw is to high there is another problem. Once the motor is running issure that you have 13.7-14.2 volts at the battery which is showing that the alternator/voltage regulator are working properly. do this with loads on and off.

[benefitx]

arent sr starters hard to get

[benefitx]

damnit, anyone else...smoke from alternator wire...not the one that goes on the stud or plugs in...its the 3rd wire

[ka24deturbo]

Is your alternator covered in oil?

I had a similar problem and what was happening was my power steering pump was leaking and while in idle fluid was traveling on my belts to my alternator and other wires on that side of the car. The ps pump was whining because of the lack of ps fluid so I bought the lucas ps sealer/conditioner and it worked right away as advertised on the bottle. Leak stopped, whining stopper, & smoke stopped.

[benefitx]

nope , i dont have power steering....oh and this is a fresh rebuild but it has started up before...

[ka24deturbo]

It sounds like your starter is toast, just have it rebuilt. Shouldn't cost you more than $80 if you can find a place that can do it.

It's crazy how smoke is coming from your alt. ground wire that just doesn't make any sense. Could it be that the smoke is coming from your starter? If you keep engaging the starter it can get hot and start smoking.

[benefitx]

nope , its alternator...the ground was so hot i couldnt touch it

[Irukandji]

Check the grounds and stop bumping this thread when people already gave you answers

[ka24deturbo]

everytime i try to start my car i hear the starter pinion kick out then a loud whining sound...motor doesnt turn over at all


This is what I was talking about......sounds like your starter is toast.

If smoke is coming from your ground wire then try tracing the thick white wire that's connects to the threaded post on your alt. to see if there are any cuts that can cause it to ground out on to the chassis or another wire.

[benefitx]

but my starter was fine...wtffffffffffff

[S14DB]

How's your battery?

[ka24deturbo]

How's your battery?

Werd!

If your battery is drained then that would cause your starter not to function correctly, try checking your wires. I had the same problem and I got into the wiring and found that white thick wire cut in half and the original owner of my car just used electrical tape to fix it! Doh!

[RedtopTech]

If you are hearing a loud click but the motor not turnng over simply connect an ohm meter into the circuit. If the current draw is to high it will cause the wires to get hot.Can you turn the motor over by hand? pop start?

[benefitx]

havent tried to pop start it yet...

[ka24deturbo]

When you get it started, disconnect the negative cable on your battery and if it keeps running your alternator is doing it's job. If it dies out have your alt. tested out. I'm sure you know this method but just in case you didn't.

If your battery isn't getting charged then your starter isn't getting enough juice to turn your crank.

[benefitx]

what would explain the smoking then. i have an optima redtop btw , and i HAVE tried jump starting it

[ka24deturbo]

try nicorette it helped my friend stop smoking.

Maybe it's your wiring. I'm out of ideas. Sorry

[S14DB]

At this point I think you melted a wire or fusible link.

[benefitx]

ok well i switched out the battery with my mom's minivan...it started up...but its knocking anyways so uhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm im just gunna run it till it blows up then buy a new longblock because im done tearing this engine apart

[lilredstiffy]

this thread is really bad

sucks your alternator made the engine knock

[benefitx]

ok well i drove it around for the first time in months...its not knock...its air in HLA's...because its not progressing and well , its always been there...

but my starter is on its way out i think...it will sometimes start and sometimes it wont...

[benefitx]

fuckin got stranded and had to call my brother down to jump start it...i guess the starter will only engage when its on a full charge...idk its gay

[benefitx]

so what could it be??? can i use an SOHC starter internals?