From a real dumb ass

[livenbad]

Hello...sadly I have cooked my Z car today. And after owning it for over thirty years I accidenitally connected the battery cables backward. Can't imagine what I was thinking. Was reconnecting after installing relay wiring harness for lights and new fuse box. Since the ignition switch was off I don't think it got into the car. However, the alternator was smoking , and maybe new distributor (electronic from 280zx) and starter. None of the fuses in the new fuse box burned nor did the inline fuse for the lights. Should I start by stripping back all the wires in the enging compartment or what??? :mad: :sick:

[LanceM]

Since the ignition was off I'd bet the only thing you cooked was the alternator/regulator, I'd hook it up right and start it up and see what happens, if the alternator is gone it won't be charging.

[livenbad]

Thanks...I hooked it up right and the car is dead...as a doornail. Bummer

[LanceM]

Check the fuseable link coming from the starter, that probably would have gone first when things started blowing, it would keep everything from working if it was blown.

[livenbad]

Thanks again...I'll start again in the morn. The alternator was less than 3 months old

[Dans240z]

This exact thing happened to me about a month ago. I wasn't paying attention and stupidly put the thing in backwards. I felt really dumb too. There was a good deal of white smoke coming from the starter as well. I was scarred as hell, but I when I hooked it up the next day, the car started. I guess I got lucky. I figured that the smoke was from dust over the years, burning on a heated wire. Maybe the battery is no good now.

[livenbad]

Ok....now I feel REALLY dumb....I know what a fuseable link looks like but where is it???? (later)...I found the link under 30 years of tape and it is not burned. The fusable link at the alternator has been removed..by a auto electric company that worked on the car years ago. When I removed the tape on the white and red wire going to the alternator it had a burned smell.

Anyway my question is: If the alternator diodes cooked would that stop all power to the car (nothing works) ??? I can't find any fuses that are burned out. Thanks

[First Gen Z]

Dans240z is correct about the battery. Don't be too hard on yourself, many of us have done the same thing with varying end results. It was my experience many years ago that nothing got destroyed but the battery. I guess you could say I was lucky because I've heard of batteries exploding. Good luck.

[livenbad]

A quick update: After installing new starter, voltage regulator, ignition switch, stripping back the wiring to find shorts (there were none), I have power to the horn, voltage regulator and the left side of the fuse block. No power to the ignition switch. No lights. Have ordered an accessory relay. Had load test done on battery and it was OK...or so they said. Have learned way more about auto electric then I wanted to.

[ChrisA]

You mentioned fusible links, did you check the one on the starter solenoid that should be a couple inches long and has a white plastic connector to the main harness and uses an eyelet on the solenoid? This one will kill the starter if it burns.

Good luck,

Chris

P.S. Dont feel to bad about what you did. Buddy of mine who is a mechanic for a living did it to his Buick Wildcat Convertible once. Smoked his starter, alternator and regulator. It can happen to anyone.

[hls30.com]

You are still in the Gene pool, everything else may be saddening, but it is all downhill!

Being absent minded is not nearly as bad as cussing and throwing tools...into...parts you.....just restored... that are NLA, and were far too expensive and very, very, very hard to find...especially without Chloe...

I refuse to answer based on the fifth ammendment!

But I should get an "AW $hit" from ever person who has ever encountered this site...

Will

[Bambikiller240]

Being absent minded is not nearly as bad as cussing and throwing tools...into...parts you.....just restored... that are NLA, and were far too expensive and very, very, very hard to find...especially without Chloe...

I refuse to answer based on the fifth ammendment!

Sounds like you need to borrow some of stuff from the "other" side of my garage. Too much tension.............