Ok, so I just swapped in a new alternator.. but am now having starting issues

Install went fine, here is what the sequence of events were..

-Removed fan
-Removed belt
-Removed alternator
-Installed new alternator
-Installed belt
-Installed fan

The first time I tried to turn the car on, it just cranked and that was it. Then I gave it a second, tried it again, and it fired right up. I let the car come up to temperature, rev'd it a few times (checking for other issues), then I disconnected the negative side of the battery to see if the new alternator was working.. and it was.

Afterwards, I moved the car and parked it in the street on the curb. Later that day I tried starting the car again but it wouldn't fire up. It cranks fine, but does not turn over.

I've checked and rechecked everything I touched, and did not see anything. The only thing I saw out of place was an unplugged vaccum line going to the EGR...but I was nowhere near that side when I was installing the alternator.

-I was hoping I just had a low battery so I connected a jump box, but that was a no go
-To eliminate it being the alternator, I took off the belt, and tried to start the car, that was also a no go
-I've checked the fuses, with no multimeter (to check continuity), they look fine to my naked eye
-When I was removing/installing the belt, I remembered that I was leaning on the distributor, so I thought I might have nudged it if the adjustment bolt was loose... I tried clocking the distributor slightly, but it was locked down tight.
-I've checked all electrical connectors in the general alternator area.... Distributor, MAF, both alternator plugs.


Anyone ever experience this? Or am I totally missing something?

 

Alright... so after leaving it alone for a few hours I decided to give it another look. I tried cranking it, and it sounded like it wanted to start and it also sounded like the battery was low on juice, so this time instead of hooking up a jumpbox I jumped it with my other car.

Started up right away. I left the car on, then drive around the block for about 5 or 10 minutes. When I came back I parked it and shut off the engine. Just to be sure, I tried to start it up again. I cranked it and it started but died right away. I cranked it again, but it will never fire up... So I'm back to where I started.

Has anyone experienced anything like this?

 

i go to school for automotive repair and ive been told to never disconnect the negative battery terminal while the car is running because it could cause voltage spikes and damage the ecu... i hope thats not it for you. when i replaced my alternator i had my ignition fuse blow on me. i believe its 30 amp fuse under the hood. double check that. good luck lemme know how it goes

 

Hmm.. never heard that about the battery/ECU. As for the fuses, the car did start, so I'm guessing the fuses are fine. I need to get my hands on a multimeter.