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alternator short
Topic Started: Jun 24 2014, 01:34 AM (1,233 Views)
Tim Keith


The alternator in my '96 Metro has a short. When I attempted to start the car the main 60-amp fuse blew. I replaced the main fuse, it blew again. I then removed the alternator and replaced the main fuse. Now I have headlights and the starter cranks, but the interior and dash lights do not come on, and the motor will not start. The alternator is at the repair shop. All fuses are okay. Is this normal behavior?

Again I have head lights, the starter motor cranks but does not start. No interior or dash lights. The alternator leads are disconnected. I will get the rebuilt alternator tomorrow.

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nickb803
NickB803

have you checked the fuses under the dash too? mainly the 20 amp ignition fuse?
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Tim Keith


Three 15 amp fuses were blown. There is still no dash lights or ignition.

There was a jumper from the battery directly to one of the 15 amp fuses. I removed the jumper.

Which side of the fuse block should be hot? I need the wiring diagram.

I'm thinking that the jumper may have been necessary.
Edited by Tim Keith, Jun 24 2014, 09:52 PM.
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Tim Keith


Now, when the ignition switch is turned to the ACC position the under hood AC cooling fan runs. But not for long - the underdash "HTR" fuse blew. I disconnected the AC cooling fan motor, the fuse is okay for now. But the underdash fuse labeled "ACC" has blown again. This is the fuse that had a jumper from the battery. I have removed that jumper.
Edited by Tim Keith, Jun 25 2014, 01:26 AM.
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Greywolf
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Mostly Harmless

Jumpers are always a bad sign. It means someone tried to make something run that was likely fried.
That usually makes whatever was wrong become worse.

You need a wiring diagram bad - ACC should be accessories. That can include a lot of things, I'm going to look at my books and see if anything covers that.

PS: A bad short in a failed item could easily have fried your alternator - the real cause being the contributor to additional damage. DO NOT put that damned jumper back in!

*Two items that I expect are on the ACC circuit are the radio (and noise suppressors) and a cigarette lighter.
Check the lighter and see if it looks corroded inside, if it is, disconnect it at the back.
Electric cig lighters are notorious for shorting out.

* If the radio is not the original - look for a bad wiring job or wires that have fallen apart where they were spliced in.
99 times out of a hundred when you find funky wires that are not where they should be or just don't belong it means someone who didn't know how to do things right tried to add a cool-dude radio to a car
Edited by Greywolf, Jun 25 2014, 05:12 PM.
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geogonfa
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Just my $.02...check the wiring that runs under the intake, the wires crack and short out...and check the wiring under the power distribution center on the left fender well...if you need help let me know... :type
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Tim Keith


I think the heater blower should be variable speed but is now just on-off. I will disconnect the blower motor. How to diagnose the blower motor.

I removed the jumper. I don't see any other evidence of wiring mods. I have a '98 Metro parts car. I assume that the under dash wiring is the same for this '96 but I don't see any reason to replace the wiring. If I can find a well recommended auto electric shop I might take it there.
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clarkdw


There is a 97 Factory Service Manual with all the wiring schematics you need available to members in the manuals section of the forum and at this link. 97 Library It should be the same as your 96.
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Greywolf
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Oh HELL yeah - much nicer organised than the books I was looking at!

Page 2 of 2 of the Power Distribution diagram shows only two things connected to the ACC fuse.
PREDICTABLY "CIGAR LIGHTER" is one of them - but a bad radio is I suppose possible...

In my experience the cigar (cigarette) lighter is the most common culprit.


Blower fan speeds are usually controlled by switching across a small number of resistor coils. It isn't unusual for those resistors to have problems either - they are usually exposed and can become shorted or blown. For a fan motor itself to go bad is a bit unusual but it can happen. Pull the unit and run it by a parts store that will test it for free.


~Wolfie
Edited by Greywolf, Jun 26 2014, 02:19 PM.
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Tim Keith


I disconnected the radio, heater blower and the cigarette lighter. The "ACC" fuse and "HTR" fuse no longer blow but now the "IG" fuse blows. I have interior lights, but no hazard lights. The "HAZ" fuse is okay.

The car won't start but I figure that "IG" means ignition. I think this is progress.
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geogonfa
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Did you ever find your short? :type
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