i drove my car home from the shop on friday without the alternator hooked up. the shop said it was bad and needed to be replaced. today (tuesday) i bought a new alternator, installed it, and tried to start the car. No luck. No electricity. On the passenger's side fender there was a wire, with one end unconnected. There was a place on the negative terminal of the battery where a uncovered wire lay. I hooked this wire up to the wire on the inside fender, and the electric fan started turning. I then proceeded to my cockpit, and turned the key over. sparks flew from the place that i had just connected, but the car didnt start. What did I do? What will I have to replace, What do i have to hook up? Please help, i have no idea what happened and I need this car to run.

 

What color was this wire? BTW, driving with the alternator disconnected is an excellent method of trashing a perfectly good battery in a very short period of time.

 

What if my battery is charged? what did i blow, and what will i have to replace?