alternator not charging

[satansdank]

first off i have a 1990 240sx with sr20det stock.ran into this problem right when i was getting ready to put my 240 away for winter. all in the same day i sprayed the engine bay with engine cleaner and slightly washed it off with a light spray. also i changed the oil and oil filter, when changing the stubborn oil filter i touched a cluster of cobble job wiring to something metal and it made a spark. i noticed that the wire on the bottom of the alternator was frayed off also (might of knocked it off while changing oil filter. i know i need to have someone clean up the wiring in my engine bay because there are a few noticeable clumps of wiring laying around. i bought a new clamp thing and bolted and clamped the wire back to alternator but now the battery is not charging off the alternator. could this be the 75a fuse that popped or could i have ruined my alternator when i cleaned my engine. battery light is on and alternator is not charging battery, i tested it.

what do you guys think, this spring i plan on taking car to tuner and getting some wiring clean up done and new alternator installed.

[rcdad123]

yes it is one of the big fuses, don`t know which one, but look carefully in the sight glass so you can tell which one is blown. also drive the car around for a few minutes, during the day so you don`t have to use the headlights, to dry off everything that you washed. if you put it away wet, it will start corroding. if the big wire that bolts on the alternator is fried, run a new wire. make sure it`s the same gauge or thickness as the old wire.

[94spitfire91]

Might have fried some of that alternators rectifier bridge. That would either severly limit recharging or stop it completely.
Just wanted to throw that out there, but most importantly what wire was it? You should have three or maybe four leading off the alternator. If it was a control side (smaller ) wire it may be an easy fix same goes for the bigger output wire replacing them if theyre frayed apart is a must anyway

[wangan_cruiser]

Check the 75amp fuse.

[Luiyi]

I had the same problem.. My thing is I connected the wires wrong an burned my 75a fuse but i got a new then fixed the wires and BAMM my car works perfect..

If the fuse is blown only thing that will work is ur headlights..
But check connections if there right so u woNt burn ur computer

[satansdank]

it was the wire on the bottom of the alternator that was frayed off, i had to strip some rubber off and clamp a new end on it and bolt it back on. i think the fuseable link in that wire is toast because i threw a new battery in it just to drive it back to my house, and it drove fine with HID's/boost gauges and everything but when the battery gets low on juice, power to fuel rail starts cutting out and it loses power/headlights dim and then it just spits and sputters till it shuts off. so im gonna replace that wire from alternator to battery and the 75a fuse and hopefully that will fix it. if not i think i fried my alternator and need to replace that. is it worth it to just get the alternator rebuilt or should i just buy a new one and drill that bolt hole out for it to bolt up?

[jr_ss]

Why don't you just replace the fuse like people have suggested instead of looking else where?

[Luiyi]

Dude if u fryedur alternator get a new Instead of rebuild..
This time make sure to connect it correct!
Then put on a new 75a fuse and should be fine..
I had the same problem and did the exact same thing it works fine

And yes new one and drill that hole that's what I did and works perfect

[Luiyi]

Don't try driving it with a burned fuse or you WILL BURN UR COMPUTER

[satansdank]

thanks guys, i am not driving the car currently its put away for winter already :( but i will check on the fuse this weekend.

[satansdank]

check the 75a fuse and its not blown, so that makes me think either the wire from the alternator to the battery is fried or my alternator is toast.

[xSoCalxRiderx125]

Bumpin an old thread.
Have you had any luck solving this? Been battling the same problem for months. The 75a fuse isn't blown. My battery before i left my house for work was reading at 14.3v with the car on. I drove the car to my work, all was good (alt. was charging the battery). Got off work and went to start my car and the battery/ebrake lights came on, checked the battery with meter and it was at 12v and slowly dropping. Everything was working fine. Don't know what the hell happened while my car was off to make it be doing this.

[bogert]

I think that the generator got earth with the spark.You have to show it to mechanic.

[wangan_cruiser]

Wtf is this? ^

[satansdank]

still havent gotten the 240 out of storage and looked at it but, 3 things happened that day. i lightly sprayed my engine bay with engine cleaner and a very light mist of a hose to wash it (might of ruined alternator) but i cant image how. changed my oil filter and when i was trying to get it off i ripped the bottom wire off my alternator and had to re clamp it on the the bolt. and when that happened something made sparks somewhere and might of shorted something out. when i check the voltage on the battery it was concluded that the alternator wasnt charging the battery. i havent checked the alternator for output yet to see if its the alternator or the wire that runs back to the battery. the 75a fuse looks good so its either one or the other.

[wangan_cruiser]

Do a continuity test from wires from the battery to the fuse link then from fuse link to the alternator. Even the fuse looks good possibly a break between wires. I have the same problem right now.

[korco]

Did u get a new alternator? If so make sure u check that the wires are connected right and then check the fuse and ground and everything..

[Michael E]

Test battery, cables, fueses