Once you have cleared the short, the spark should be gone also. This
episode shouldn't have hurt the voltage regulator, unless it was left
connected for more than a minute or so with the current flowing. If it was
left connected longer than that, the regulator may have been damaged, but
the symptom will be that there is no charging going on. So if your tapping
on the gauge brings it back to life, you can check for that. If the gauge
stays stuck, you can always check for charging by starting the engine, then
pulling off on battery cable. If the engine keeps running, the generator is
charging, at least a little, so you know the regulator is somewhat
functional.
Dick Benjamin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Hulse" <thulse@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 9:29 PM
Subject: RE: IML: smoking alternator 12 volt negative ground
> Dick, your correct I have a generator. Tired and confused. When I
> disconnected the posative battery cable there was a brite spark. Thats was
> after I found the grounded wire. I will go check what you mentioned, tap
on
> glass ect....Would this have messed up the voltage regulator.
> Thanks for responding
> Tim
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Dick Benjamin
> Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 9:20 PM
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: IML: smoking alternator 12 volt negative ground
>
>
> I'm surprised to hear your 56 has an alternator, but I guess that doesn't
> change the answer to your question.
>
> Take the following steps immediately:!!
>
> Turn off everything in the car, and close the doors. Disconnect one
battery
> cable (it doesnt' matter which one), then touch it to the battery post it
> came off to see if any spark occurs. If there is no spark, you're short
> has gone away. With the battery disconnected, tap on the face of the
> ammeter. It may be stuck from having been driven totally off scale.
> Tapping may bring it back to center. If not, you may have to replace it,
> but since you don't have a spark when you tap the cable on the post, you
> don't have a short, and you can safely drive the car that way - your
ammeter
> is simply stuck and therefore its reading can be ignore.
>
> IF< on the other hand, you do see a spark when you tap the cable (if your
> clock works, one spark on the first tap is OK, but that should not recurr
> for a few minutes when the clock needs to wind again), the spark indicates
> something is drawing current, and you should leave the battery
disconnected
> until you find the short - leaving it connected will at the least ruin the
> battery, and at the worst, ruin your whole day by burning up the car and
> whatever building it is parked in.
>
> Dick Benjamin
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Tim Hulse
> To: Imperial Mailing List
> Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 8:52 PM
> Subject: IML: smoking alternator 12 volt negative ground
>
>
> To whom mite know whats happening. I put my kick board back in place on
the
> drivers side of my 56 imperial. There was a heavy gauge wire that grounded
> to the frame for a short while. I noticed the ammeter went way off of the
> discharge side of glass. I then looked in the engine compartment to see
> smoke coming out of the alternator. I moved the wire from where it was
> grounded and the ammeter stays on the disscharge side even when I rev the
> engine. Have I fried something?
>
> Thanks
> Tim
>
>
>
>
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