Electrical fire!

[MONSOUN MOTORS]

I messed up kind of bad while I was replacing my radiator tonight after work and ended up possibly frying something. I forgot to disconnect the battery and accidentally arched the alternator power wire to the body itself. This cause some burning and smoking at the power distribution block? I think that's what it is called but it the black box behind the D/S shock tower with all the big fuses in it. I check all the fuses with a test light and they all were getting power.
Driving home everything went dim, the antilock light came on, the eatc turned off and the tach stopped moving and stayed at idle. The battery light was on and it was dim and once I revved past 3k it stayed off.
Could I have possibly burned out the PCM or some other module, I have no real clue on where to start. Any help on where to start would be great.

 

[Ishodu]

You could have fried the alt itself getting it tested would be a good start.

 

[hawkeye18]

I agree, you likely FUBARd the voltage regulator on the alternator. Time for an alt replacement!

 

[sho'noffmtx]

co signed

 

[Cl-Slick]

The symptoms of the lights and EATC is exactly what mine did when the alternator died. I'd go ahead and replace that.

 

[MONSOUN MOTORS]

Thanks guys, we were really slow in the shop today so i got to spend some time checking the car over with a test light and my multimeter. Everything seemed to be symptomatic of a bad alternator but I tested the alternator and it turned out to be okay. The battery was not getting charged but it turn it was because I burned up the fusible link from the power distribution block. I called Ford to figure out what size AWG link i should be using but they had no clue and just told me a bunch of colors with a corresponding size. I had some 12 gauge fusible link left in my box so put that in and used some heat shrink on it. Is this the proper size wire I should be using, it seems to be working fine but I would like to put the correct size in. Thanks

 

[TimboSHO]

I'm not 100% sure on the SHO, but I've used 12 guage fusable link for similar repairs in GM products (because it's what was called for). You should be alright.

 

[32MTX]

let this be a lesson

disconnect the battery when working around power sources. Even when your not directly working on that component.






hopefully there is no next time or the pope himself will weigh in on the situation

 

[hawkeye18]

Yeah, I arc welded a 10mm socket to the alternator B+ post once because I wasn't paying attention (and didn't disconnect the battery). To this day, that alt still has a 10mm socket on it. I keep it as a reminder. Had to cut the alt cable to get it off.

 

[MONSOUN MOTORS]

I usually do remember to disconnect the battery but I was in a rush and the radiator only takes a few minutes to change. I'm just glad i didn't do any major damage and thanks again guys.