Well, here I am again. You guys have helped a lot in my previous posts, so here goes again. I have been having a charging problem with my 82Z and have replaced alternator and battery and still the gauge would only read around 8v-9v. I was figuring maybe a bad connection somewhere or a bad wire. In the process of moving the wire around while running to see if the gauge made any movement, the plug-in terminals on the alternator sparked and smoke rolled out from behind the engine (maybe starter area) and the car died! All I have now is headlights. No radio, ignition, power windows (of course they are down), blower fan. If someone can give me a direction to go in, I would be gratefull. Thanks

Agin_Cajun

 

Sounds like you burned up the fusible link. There are 2 sets of circuits on most cars:1. power on always(horn, lights), and 2. power on when key on(radio, power windows, gages). Each set has a fusible link, that acts like a big fuse and melts if you have a short circuit. You have to cu tthe old one out and solder in a new one, or have someone else do it if you don't know how. Th efusible links are usually down near the starter, which would explain the smoke near the back of the engine. Check the wires closely, especially near the exhaust to see what caused it to short out. Good luck.

 

Thanks Sparkee! That's the direction I was leaning to after getting out the shop manual. Riddle me this Batman. Would it be just as easy to install new wires w/fuses from Alternator to starter or do I need to do the splice thing. Will that even work and can the new complete wires be bought at the local Auto Store? The reason I ask is that I don't have access to a garage and will be doing this in the yard, and it would help this "old man" tremendously. Thanks again Sparkee.

 

To the Bat cave.... The problem with using a fuse is that it would have to be a pretty big fuse, and you would have to splice a fuse holder, too. I would make sure you get a new fusible link, and the right size. You can just use the "butt splices", but soldering is the best way. The 2nd best way are special butt splices you can get at some car parts stores. You crimp them just like a regular splice, but after crimping you use a heat gun or cigarette lighter to heat it up. It actually shrinks around the wires to seal them from moisture. Regular splices don't seal up,and usually in a year or 2, they corrode from moisture and break off, and that can cause a fire.

Without a fuse or fusible link, you run the risk of catching your car on fire. They are there to burn out, to prevent the wires from burning. I've seen the damage that an electrical fire can do to a car, trust me you don't want it to be your car. The car I saw burn, was a young kid that installed some big stereo equipment in his trunk, and had a big power wire going from the battery to the trunk with no fuse. His door sliced thru the wire and caused a short circuit, and with no fuse to blow, the wire caught fire. Not a pretty site! Spend a few extra bucks, and do it right the first time. Good luck.

Matt

 

I guess I didn't type what I meant. The new wires I was asking about are the complete new fusible link wire from the Alternator to the starter. I understand it's not a fuse as such, but I would like to put in all new wire and not have to splice. Is that an option? If not, I'll go ahead and do the spice thing. Thanks again.

Agin_Cajun

 

i had the same problem with my 84Z. I spliced in a new fusible link from an auto parts store and used some heat shrink tubing on each side of the splice as to keep it from shorting again. Mine has been runnin like a champ ever since. hope this helps.

kevin

 

I don't know if you can get a whole new wire from the dealer or something, but you could try. If you are lucky, you could try to get a good one from a junk yard, but I don't recommend it. I usually just splice it in myself, but I do electrical/electronic work for a living. It might be easier to pull the old wire out and work on it on a bench or table, instead of trying to splice it in the car. Have you found the cause of the short circuit yet? Good luck.