Ok, so my alternator goes out, only pulling 13 amps no less... So I buy another, I put it in, up until now, there has been alittle *pink pink* when I start the car, but more on that in a sec.

SO I install the new alternator, and I get my girlfriend to hop in and start the car so I could check to see in the belts were tightened enough, I know there are better ways of checking, but I figured that was the easiest.

So my Girlfriend turns it over, and this HUGE CLINK CLINK CLINK sound, like when you stick a card on the back tire of a bike, but LOUD, and not so fast, and the car would sorta swell almost to starting, like um..... well, like wwwwwWWWWWAAWwwww.... you know, the sound a car makes when being started, but it would stop in between these clicks.... I dunno how to explain it...

But this is what just made me completely flip out, when my girlfriend started it, and it did the click click thing, it went click click click ((acouple times)) and BROOM a huge light came from where the starter was (passanger side, down by spark plug for cylinder 8), I was trying to tell her to stop turning it over, but I guess she couldn't hear me, and I had the hood up, so she couldn't see me either, so finally she turned it over, all this within like 30 secounds, and the belt of course was loose, so it was followed by a high pitch squeel, but what is bothering me is that huge light, I figure it was a flame, as engines are not known for being flashlights.

So, I go under the car, expecting to see a destroyed starter, not my Girlfriends fault, as I installed the starter, so if something went bad its me, you know?

So I go under there, everything looks good, thank god, all the spark plugs are in the block, everything looks like it should, but the main I guess screw (I don't know what to call it)? on the starter, the one you put the 2 main (large) wires on, was loose, like loose enough to were I was able to wiggle it really easy atleast 1/4 to 3/8 inch (guessing, but trying to be as smart about it as possible) so I had to take the starter out and take it apart to tighten, now what I'm wondering is this, ok, could that cause such a flame? the bolt that was loose wasn't loose from the outside, but from the inside of the starter, you know, like it wasn't about to fall out, cause the top of it was in the starter in the casing, and the neck of the bolt was tightened by a bolt on the outside of the casing (which was loose) then on that was my wires (not just bare wires, you know what I mean) and then another bolt, which was tight with the first bolt.

I'm just wondering, now that I fixed the starter, is it safe to put it back on, and start it? given, I don't have a prime engine, nothing fancy, but with 16 gallons of gas, the explosion alone could cause acouple stiches....

And is there anything else I should check? the spark plugs look good, the plugs wires are new, only about 4 months old (as are plugs) and they are also secure, I had the starter aligned with the flywheel (and its been running smoothly for afew month, until the little pink pink noise) and I don't know what all is under there minus that, and a collection of oil that has stuck on from the many years of being abused until I got it, which I am planning on degreasing tomarrow

So tell me please, I'm serious, I don't want to blow up because of my car, or worse, have my Girlfriend blow up because of me, so if you know of anything that may cause that, please post.

The flame was seriously just a large flash mind you,only like a half secound, a secound at the most, but all in all, its still scary to think about.

Thanks,
-Karma