idM1028
New member
- 429
- 1
- 0
- Location
- Somewhere in Nebraska
While working in the garage I decided to swap around the alternators in my M1028A1 around as I suspected that one, although I had taken it out and it tested fine, had a faulty voltage regulator. All went according to plan until I noticed that the terminal on the red wire for the alternator was too small for the post (I know why this, I did it, and my reasons for doing so are too long and besides the point) What to do, what to do. . . I had a small section of heavy gauge wire, that no doubt would have been up to the task, but I would have needed to strip the ends and I'm not sure I would've gotten a good connection. Then it occurred to me: I had a set of jumper cables that had been split in two and which I keep for occasions just like this. They would be much quicker to put on, would be able to handle the load and would likely provide a better connection. Brilliant! Or so I thought. . . The smoking from the engine bay, the smell of burnt wiring, and what appeared to be a small fire indicated I had much bigger worries than a potentially faulty voltage regulator. Turns out the clamp on the alt wire had grounded out to a steel line from the brake fluid reservoir. I was quick to disconnect everything (to include the batteries; one of the smart decisions I had made: putting the batteries clamps on loosely rather than tightening them down) Also while patching up all the burnt up insulation on the wiring (fusible links= 
) I found a major wire (that happens to run to the suspected faulty alternator) had burnt through but the insulation was intact. Not sure if it had burned up before or after this incident, but I suspect before so at least some good came out of it.
) I found a major wire (that happens to run to the suspected faulty alternator) had burnt through but the insulation was intact. Not sure if it had burned up before or after this incident, but I suspect before so at least some good came out of it.
