Re: Total shutdown with elect power suging and fried fusible link
 

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Something else occurred to me while looking at your photo of the plug. I looks to be a fairly new alternator.

Christian at Maniac Electric Motors has cautioned many times about overtightening the nut on the top of alternator that holds the power connection, usually on installation. Doing so puts stress on that stud, then they occasionally break and twist internally. Check that as well.

Since the stud has battery power and the case is grounded through the mounting bolts, any twisting internally would set off a short through inadvertant contact. Would be interested to see if that would be related to the fried wires on the plug. How are the wires on top of the alternator?

They are available for replacement cheaply. See my thread here with a link.

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/show...ost#post690551


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Re: Total shutdown with elect power suging and fried fusible link
 

Forget the Alternator, its not in the circuit. If there was a short at the alt. you would not have to turn the key on to get the short.
It would short as soon as you connected the battery terminal.

Harvey.

Re: Total shutdown with elect power suging and fried fusible link
 

The Alt is not the problem.
If you disconnect all of those units, that I listed and the short is still there, it means that they are not the problem. Leaving only the wiring.

If the short is not there with all of them disconnected, then plug them in one at a time testing for the short each time, to see which produces the short.

Harvey.

Re: Total shutdown with elect power suging and fried fusible link
 

At this stage every possibility must be checked and the damaged sensing wire provides factual evidence. The exact routing of the several white wires coming from the alternator has never been properly established. Under these circumstances, I believe that it is reasonable to suspect that the sensing wire could possibly be supplied via fuse 16. This being the case the short circuit could involve the alternator and in several different ways.

What is the condition of the wires coming from the alternator?

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Re: Total shutdown with elect power suging and fried fusible link
 

There are possibly 50 or so other bits of wiring and plugs that you could check, where do you want to start?

Of what? Only of having carried excess current, from the failed reg.

Don’t know about that, but the book shows wiring quite plainly, I can follow it. You and your advisor must have missed that part of your Alternator Thread.

Just look at the wiring in the book, it shows two connections to the plug on the side of the alternator, one white is straight from the battery. The other brown wire is the ground wire for the Generator warning light in the dash, fed from fuse No.15.

Harvey.

Re: Total shutdown with elect power suging and fried fusible link
 

Ooooh! Battle of the wiring Gurus. I love that show!:lol:

Re: Total shutdown with elect power suging and fried fusible link
 

I am conceding this battle with this post. I am not in it to win, just suggest.

There is enough already information to explore. I have learned much, doing the alternator wiring upgrade, plus valuable input from Maniac Electric Motors and people from the Technical Analysis and Performance Department at SOA in Cherry Hill. There so far no obvious, definitive cause.

Wiring diagrams are simple and show how things connect and theories can be put out to address any symptoms. In real life, wires are not always where you think they should be. There is no substitute for checking the problem out in person and searching for any additional "clues" or a "smoking gun" about what may have happened.

Wiring short, alternator fault or ignition switch. Immediate and without warning.

As they say "if you want a proper autopsy, you have to give me the body"

or at least some good photos

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Re: Total shutdown with elect power suging and fried fusible link
 

Not a battle of two guru's. Two forum members trying their best to help a fellow member out. That's what what makes this forum great.:(
This could be my problem tomorrow.
Gene

Re: Total shutdown with elect power suging and fried fusible link
 

Thats for sure. I am very thankful for all the knowledge, insight and the willingness to share. Have not had time this weekend but will try to get back at soon.

Thanks,

Re: Total shutdown with elect power suging and fried fusible link
 

Electrical is my biggest weakness in my amateur mechanical ability. Will try unhooking everything to test for short. If I can't isolate, well......

Getting frustrated, considering sale.......anyone interested?

Re: Total shutdown with elect power suging and fried fusible link
 

Well I'm interested in fixing it,:)So when you get the time to do the test, let us know what the result is.:cool:

Harvey.

Re: Total shutdown with elect power suging and fried fusible link
 

Okay,

I give up. Tried some to isolate. Took to indy mechanic who spent two or so hours with wiring diagrams, couldn't figure it out.

I'm sure this is a very fixable problem for someone who really knows electrical and SVX's.

Car is now for sale, or will be donated. :(

Thanks to all for the help and special thanks to Harvey, Nate and svxcess for the parts and extra attention.

Re: Total shutdown with elect power suging and fried fusible link
 

Bringing this back up as I now have possession of the car and will begin digging into this car more in the future.
One thing I note reading back through is that only the airbag itself was disconnected, and not the actual air bag module/cpu. Is this correct in your assessment, Harvey, or is the module also needing to be unplugged?

Also keep in mind, I have full harnesses, and every module at my disposal.

TIA for any help and advice as I cannot dig through wiring diagrams for my life.

Re: Total shutdown with elect power suging and fried fusible link
 

Good luck with my old car Nate. She was very clean when John and Ron helped me with the purchase.

I'm very sorry to see Mac had so many problems with her.

Todd