Hope this finds everyone we'll.

I did a good deed and toasted my alternator and subsequently my battery. I have since replaced my alternator and battery with brand new ones (I made sure the bad battery was disconnected prior to doing any replacements).

I now have power in all electrical aspects but now the car won't even turn over. I have tried disconnecting the negative cable, pushing the brakes to reset the system before reconnecting and I still get nothing. Should I reset my ECU? If so where is it located (I think right behind the driver side headlight)?

I'm in a bad situation as I need my car to go to work on Monday. Anything that anyone has will be of MASSIVE assistance.

Thank,
Hutch

 

Sounds like you tried jumping someone and fried something. I'd start by looking at the fuse box right below the battery.

GL!

 

Thanks for the quick response!!!

I checked what I could see; all of the link fuses are intact and not burned through. I know a lot of them are bolted in. Should I remove the entire unit and take it apart? Or does anyone know how to get the huge square fuses out without dismantling it.

Hutch

 

So, what exactly happened? You try helping someone by jumping their car and something went wrong? It'll help us help diagnosis your problem.

 

Gville

Nothing out of the norm except leaving the cables connected for almost 15 minutes and they tried to start it multiple times. The next morning I got in it, it started right up. About 15 miles down the road I smelled the burning smell an alternator gets, my stereo flickered in and out then died. I tried to make it to my destination but it was rush hour traffic and couldn't keep my revs up. The revs dropped to the bottom and it died. The police jumped it twice and as soon as they took the cables of it died.

Hutch

 

Ok, so I'd start by looking specifically at the starter fuse. So everything electrical with the car works fine now?

 

Gville,

Everything down to the under dash works perfectly in the way of electronics. I will go look at the starter fuse right now. If it is one of the large square ones does it just pull straight out or is there something else I need to do to remove it?

Hutch

 

Gville,

I just checked it and the starter fuse is one of the metal linked fuses and it isn't burnt through, discolored or anything abnormal. I'm thinking about taking the whole thing apart in the morn just to be 100% sure. Any other ideas boss?

Hutch

 

Are you handy with a mutli-meter? I'd start testing leads to various things to see that you're getting power to the starter. Perhaps the starter solenoid got fried?

 

I would try to go through and reseat every fuse that you can. Sometimes they are burnt in areas that are not necessarily the middle. There are multiple fuse boxes in the car so I would take a run through all of them . ALSO make sure the alternator was installed correctly. Make sure the power wire is connection is tight and the ground is also grounded properly.

What sounds like your problem is that there is a ground touching power somewhere

 

To all,

So, I double checked everything was installed correctly and pulled every single fuse from all 4 locations. In the end I had to pull the negative battery cable, push the brake, re-engage the negative cable, lock then unlock the car manually, insert the manual key back into the faub, hit the unlock button twice, push the brake and wait for green light on starter button. Sheeeeeeesh!!

The car started up and immediately died. I prayed....lol, then tried it again and she started purring again; perfectly!!

I did have to reset all my radio stations and windows but that a small price to pay. In the end I saved $1110.00 by buying an alternator (with lifetime warranty) and new battery for $290.00. The dealership "quoted" me at $1400.00! Overall it took me about 6 hours but that's because I didn't have all the steps with me. It's much harder to get out than it is to get in.

Anyone, hit me up if you go through this, it is tedious but worth it and someone knows how now.

Thanks for the help to all of you, good looking out!

Hutch

 

What? $1110 for an alternator ??

 

Glad it worked out. I would just do another run through the car make sure there arent any loose wires anywhere and you should be good. Glad it all worked out

 

no he said he saved $1100 by buying an alternator and battery for $290 when the dealer quoted $1400

 

What battery costs $290?