Mishkin_707

i've got an 89, 5spd stock SOHC, semi new alternator, not even a year yet... a couple of weeks ago i was driving and all of a sudden i started smelling burnt wire, didn't think it was my car so i ignored it, kept driving and my battery light came on and the electronics started dimming, popped the hood and the smell of burnt wire was obviously from my car, it was on the alternator side, i inspected and saw nothing so i said screw it i better get home before the cars battery runs down and i get stranded, half way home and everything brightens up and my battery light was off, so i went home and parked it.

a few days ago i went 6 blocks to the gas station, and i started smelling burnt wire once again, so i parked and popped the hood, again no signs of any burning wires or fire, get in and go home, checked everything and nothing seems out of the ordinary, drive the car the rest of the day and no smell or anything.

today, i had to recharge my battery so i put it back in started the car and there it goes, i didnt even drive the car at all, it smelled really bad, but again no signs of visible fire or burnt wires, even from under the car, i connected my voltmeter and it was charging at 14.0 volts, i went in the car and i was looking at my cluster to see if my battery light comes on, the smell got worse and sure enough the battery light comes on, i go check my voltmeter and it says its at 11.9 volts and dropping as i was watching it, this is while the car is on.

i dunno if it matters but, i have HID's that have been on the car for two years, with a viper 791VX on the car for the same amount of time, also have my silvia fog lamps wired correctly with the factory wiring and factory relay thats been in for three years

does anyone have an idea of why the smell of burnt wire? its definitely by the alternator side, i cannot for the life of me find anything that looks remotely burnt, could the alternator itself be burning? is that even possible??