This past weekend I changed the starter on my car. During this process I made the error of not marking what wires were coming from which post. After getting the wires crossed a couple times, letting some sparks (from the neg. post) fly when I reconnected the battery, I finally got it wired correctly and it starts.
The real problem is that my alternator is now not putting out any voltage. I tried several things but my multimeter kept coming up 0.0 off the back of the alternator. I took it off and ran it to my local auto parts store where they bench tested it, and it passed. I brought it back home, put it back on, tried multiple times and still 0.0 on the volts. I went back and bought a new alternator and it doesn't put anything out either. Still 0.0 volts off the bolt on the back.
I'm just at a loss on this one. I've had my car almost 10 years and this is the first trouble it's ever given me. Does anyone have any ideas at all why even a brand new alternator will not put out any volts? My only suspicion is that my problem may have something to do with the plug on the top of my alternator. I don't know what it is or where it goes. The wiring schematic in my repair manual says it goes to the powertrain control module.. again, over my head, but I'm not sure this would have anything to do with it.
Again, I'm just at a loss for ideas and I'd really like to not have to take it in somewhere being as I'm already several hundred dollars in on new parts. Does anyone have any ideas on a fix, or things I might be able to try? Any information or suggestions would be awesome. Thanks!!
Dustin
Springfield, Mo
The real problem is that my alternator is now not putting out any voltage. I tried several things but my multimeter kept coming up 0.0 off the back of the alternator. I took it off and ran it to my local auto parts store where they bench tested it, and it passed. I brought it back home, put it back on, tried multiple times and still 0.0 on the volts. I went back and bought a new alternator and it doesn't put anything out either. Still 0.0 volts off the bolt on the back.
I'm just at a loss on this one. I've had my car almost 10 years and this is the first trouble it's ever given me. Does anyone have any ideas at all why even a brand new alternator will not put out any volts? My only suspicion is that my problem may have something to do with the plug on the top of my alternator. I don't know what it is or where it goes. The wiring schematic in my repair manual says it goes to the powertrain control module.. again, over my head, but I'm not sure this would have anything to do with it.
Again, I'm just at a loss for ideas and I'd really like to not have to take it in somewhere being as I'm already several hundred dollars in on new parts. Does anyone have any ideas on a fix, or things I might be able to try? Any information or suggestions would be awesome. Thanks!!
Dustin
Springfield, Mo
Mar 25, 2010 at 10:08 AM
