Like a moron I forgot to disconnect the battery when I was working on the alternator. I touched the positive alternator wire with the ratchet and made a cool spark when it touched metal. This caused the 140 amp fusibile link in the fuse box next to the battery to commit suicide. Car still ran but the cornering lights, dash illumination, tail lights, and a few other things were screwed. I tested it by completing the circuit briefly with a small gauge wire and everything worked fine. I went to a restaurant to eat and when I came out, the car was completely dead, wouldn't even turn over. I read an another forum that there's a diode in the alternator that will fry when it's shorted and that will cause the alternator to go bad. I took the battery in and it's at 70% charged and shows 12.4 volts. So if the battery is hot enough to at least start the car and it won't even turn over, is it likely that I might have shorted the starter solenoid? How should I troubleshoot this? I'm having the battery trickle charged overnight so it should be fine. Test both alternator and starter is what I think. Any advice?

 

Sounds like the alternator but I'm just guessing. Definately test them both.

 

How do you mean, 'wouldn't even turn over'?
When you turn the key can you hear the starter engage or is there silence or a clacking sound?

 

If theres no sound at all, Im leaning towards the starter just hope its not both had that happen before not nice for your pocket. If it was the alternator and starter was fine it would start up but car would die eventually, but thats just my guess, but please get them both checked that will solve all problems

 

Holy! You need a f*ckload of current to blow that, more than a momentary contact anyway. Have you checked all your fuses for connectivity? Can you fire up the starter by putting it in a vise and applying 12V direct from the battery? Hopefully you get back in business.

 

I mean deader than disco. No sound whatsoever, it doesnt even try to start. That's why I'm pertty sure the starter is screwed.

 

Nope. I only touched the ratchet that was on the positive alternator cable to metal for a fraction of a second. It made one hell of a pretty spark though. It arced hot enought to put a little burn spot in my shiny ratchet handle though. I haven't taken the alternator or starter off yet. I hate to miss too much work and I work from before it's light till to dark to work. I'll most likely tow it to an electrical shop near work and have him do it because he works cheap. No charge for diagnostic if he fixes it. Starter isn't so bad because it's a lifetime replacement part so I'm only out of R&R labor if that's it. It shouldn't be more than $50 to $60 to rebuild the factory alternator. If he tries to screw me on price, I'll threaten to call immigration on him.

 

Hahaha so you trickle charged over night and still not a sound from started at all? Also can you turn radio and all on or lights?

 

Yeah, like freak said - what other electrical symptoms (if any) persist beyond not being able to get the starter to respond?

It could be the starter, but chances are higher it was something else. I'd go through all of your fuses (engine bay and under the steering wheel) to make sure you didn't kill more than just one.

Remember, when working on your car, step number one is to ALWAYS disconnect the negative lead on the battery. It's hands down something that can never be repeated often enough

 

a short big enough to blow that link may have damaged your pcm?

 

may but i dont think that short he said just enough time to see the pretty spark which i would have done too but the millisecond after you are like **** and then walk away and act like that didnt just happen but check the fuses every one of them probably jsut blew a fuse with that short of one maby the battery fuse if all fuses are fine and all ICE works and such except starting the car chances are the starter

 

Electricity travels at the speed of light. It doesn't take too much to fry multiple systems (although usually, one fuse blowing is sufficient to stop things). I would look for fuses relating to systems that share the wiring of the alternator.