My Demon is possessed

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element303

element303

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I was changing my alternator yesterday and when I had it off suddenly the car tried to start without key in ignition or me touching anything at all. I was a little worried about putting my hands back near the fan when I installed the new alternator, but luckily it didn't do it again. Today I went for a longer ride to test it and after half an hour I noticed a loud noise when shifting in neutral - something that I always do when I approach a red light or when Im standing. I left it in D until I'm at the house. When I put it in parking I immediately realized its the starter turning on in neutral and parking. I left it in reverse and turned it off and disconnected the battery. I also noticed that the positive on the battery was pretty hot and some acid seemed to be leaking from the top of the battery. Too hot maybe? Not sure if its related but is that a faulty starter relay or a dying starter? I would guess the relay. But then why does it only to that in neutral? Doesn't make any sense to me but Im sure it does for one of you hardcore mopars.
 
Neutral safety switch, starter won't work unless you're in park or neutral
Guess #1 is starter relay. Cheap and easy to replace.
If that doesn't help it's most likely the ignition switch

BTW, why do you shift into N when coming to a stoplight or still?
 
Possibly your starter solenoid has corrosion on the contact points and is shorting across. Had that happen once in a parking lot and had to jump out and disconnect the battery before it cooked the starter or the wiring.
 
451Cuda said:
Possibly your starter solenoid has corrosion on the contact points and is shorting across. Had that happen once in a parking lot and had to jump out and disconnect the battery before it cooked the starter or the wiring.
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Oh thats why the battery was so hot. Ill check that in the morning. Just got dark.

I shift in neutral because I try to drive it economic and it rolls way further in neutral than just lifting the throttle and once standing it also better to have it in neutral because it otherwise keeps pushing on load and wasting gas. Its also annoying to keep pushing the brake for 3 minutes. I really wish I had standard.
 
why you working on alternator and not already disconnected your battery???? big safety issue!! fan coulda lobbed off a finger,..wires coulda touched and burnt whole wiring harness out,..or hole car burn to ground,..cause battery to explode...safety first!!
 
dirty white boy said:
why you working on alternator and not already disconnected your battery???? big safety issue!! fan coulda lobbed off a finger,..wires coulda touched and burnt whole wiring harness out,..or hole car burn to ground,..cause battery to explode...safety first!!
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You haven't heard? That's not how it's done these days. You're referring back to when things made sense?
 
mullinax95 said:
You haven't heard? That's not how it's done these days. You're referring back to when things made sense?
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lost a 71 chevelle ss i built from ground up when i was 15-16 years old to a electric fire, once thay burn from one end to the other, well wiring safety make lotta sense!!
 
dirty white boy said:
why you working on alternator and not already disconnected your battery???? big safety issue!! fan coulda lobbed off a finger,..wires coulda touched and burnt whole wiring harness out,..or hole car burn to ground,..cause battery to explode...safety first!!
Click to expand...

True. I am doing so many things at the same time, I guess I just wanted to get over with it and install it quick. I had the battery on and off that day and probably forgot it. I was also installing clutch and stator in my bobber at the same time and not as focused.
 
Just to be clear.
You possess a car that is possessed.
There is an always hot wire in that alternator you know.
Shake head.
And wear safety glasses when working on that battery.
I know. Who does that?
Those guys on Road Kill kill me.
Hands in everything chemical.
Can they not afford nitrile gloves? ??
 
dirty white boy said:
why you working on alternator and not already disconnected your battery???? big safety issue!! fan coulda lobbed off a finger,..wires coulda touched and burnt whole wiring harness out,..or hole car burn to ground,..cause battery to explode...safety first!!
Click to expand...
Beat me to it. ALWAYS disconnect the battery when necessary.
 
In the end, the wires at/on the starter or going to the starter ( melted near a header ) are likely shorted together. This might have been the root problem that brought about the alternator change.
 
Yeah that could be. Ill check all that now. Since we are already on it. Is it normal that the red wires inside the alternator turn slightly black after one day use? I dont think they are supposed to right?
 
well... The red is a lacquer "paint like" coating to serve as insulation. It will discolor if/when hot enough. If it cooks to coming off you have a problem.
 
dirty white boy said:
why you working on alternator and not already disconnected your battery???? big safety issue!! fan coulda lobbed off a finger,..wires coulda touched and burnt whole wiring harness out,..or hole car burn to ground,..cause battery to explode...safety first!!
Click to expand...

^ This goes to show you don't have to use standard language to be smart.
 
Cables are fine, changed the starter relay, still happening sometimes. I noticed the connections on the starter itself are moving a little but since it is pretty much impossible to get a ratchet or wrench in there, I can't do much about it. I guess its the starter after all.
 
Hmm, wires hot.
Starter stayed running.
Battery pushing out vapors.
Tries to turn over on it's own.

Sound like an overcharging melted wire shorting issue to me and not real Demons.
 
The next few days I finally have some time to look into all this electrical mess. If you guys dont mind confirming me a few things such as:

- Where exactly are the 3 cables from the alternator going to? The thick one that is charging the battery was connected to the starter relay and from there it went to the battery. Personally I would connect that directly to the battery and then one cable to the relay and from there to the starter but I guess it doesn't matter if its correct like that.

- Behind the console with all the gauges were two cables. One black one red, without them connected the car wouldn't start. I had that whole part with the gauges stuck only half way in for a few days so I can read the fuel level and connect the 2 cables but I noticed sometimes they would get hot and smoke slightly. Probably the isolation around it. Can you tell me where the red one and the black one goes? It might be related to my problem with the starter.

I would prefer to lay new cables from the alternator and to the starter but I wanted to ask you guys first. Thanks again for your time to help!
 
You need to look up the Mad Ampmeter Bypass. You most likely have a burnt wire or short some were if it smokes with no load on it.
 
Those cables behind the gauges only were getting hot when I was driving. Ill take a pic tomorrow. Its dark already. I hope you know which ones I talk about.
 
Those are the wires that go to the ammeter. Everything electrical in your car goes through them wires, or nearly everything.
 
element303 said:
Interesting. Does it matter where the red and black one goes in that case?
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I don`t know what you mean, If you read the mad bypass you will see the red and black connect together and elimanate the ammeter.
I am no expert on wiring but I did do the bypass plus I put headlights and all other big loads on relays. You also need to make sure all of your connectors are clean in the bulk head.
 
Rudy`s Ride said:
I don`t know what you mean, If you read the mad bypass you will see the red and black connect together and elimanate the ammeter.
I am no expert on wiring but I did do the bypass plus I put headlights and all other big loads on relays. You also need to make sure all of your connectors are clean in the bulk head.
Click to expand...

I realized since they can be connected to each other and then the car turns on or the starter works, it doesn't matter which one goes on which side. I don't remember how it was installed but probably the problem is somewhere else because I was driving it like that and had no issues with the starter turning by itself.
 
If you mean connecting to the ammeter I`m not sure, but if it is reversed I would think the meter would show discharge when running and a charge state while not running.
 
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