Ok, I just got a new alternator/battery a year and a half ago, when my car suddenly died during the ride home after going to the track. Hoorah.

The other day im installing a new set of indiglo gauges on my car. I disconnect the battery first (positive end), then I take apart the dash, and unplug the headlight switch/fogllight switch/rear defrost ect. and take off the instrument cluster. I put on the indiglos and they didnt work when I had connected the battery to the car. I had hooked them up to a red wire going into the pin for the Instrument cluster, and a black wire (ground) coming out. Obviously, it didnt work. So i electrical taped it up properly, then used a micrometer and tested where the power/grounds were for the headlights. Found the right ones, then set it up again. Yay, the indiglo worked. So I put everything back together, and my car doesnt start... I jump it visa vi my dad's saturn. I let it run for 10 minutes, then stop. Not only was the instrument cluster not even working (no needles were moving), but after I turned the car off, I checked the battery and it only had about 11.5 volts. I take everything apart again and make sure the cluster was in properly, it was. I jump it again, this time, only the fuel gauge works, nothing else. I let the car run for 20 minutes, then it dies again.

I decide to bring the car in this morning. SO i jump it, and drive it to the closest place. Of course, I get a red light (right down the street from the shop), and the car dies. But now it isnt jumping again.

Question is - how the hell could this have happened?? Could I have possibly shorted something out that is constantly draining the power? I know how to splice wires, and have done it a million times before. Im assuming the alternator is screwed now because it cant recharge the battery. Could I have been the problem? Or just coincidence. (Of course, my dad thinks that I screwed the car up, as usual and wants to kick my *** big time)

ANY input would be appreciated.

 

I had a blazer with some aftermarket stereo stuff, and that was the reason that I was going through alternators. If the load on it is too large, and it has to work overtime, all the time, you will burn it up.

 

Search for details on performing a parasitic draw test. that will tell you if you have a bad connection draining juice. I went through 2 alts in 2 years because of my system, I recently got an optima yellow top battery, and that fixed all of my battery related problems.

 

Well, I figured out what the problem was...

I had the instrument cluster connector in backwards. I am a disgrace to all cars, and deserve to die.

New alternator + battery and install by mechanic = 380 bucks. All for new gauges.

 

New alternator + battery and install by mechanic = 380 bucks

Autozone
...

Optima red top with trade in = 108.99

Alti with trade in = $80.00


Intallation time by you .... "35 minutes"

Ease of installation .... "very simple"

however I don't think install a guage cluster in wrong is going to draw enough power to kill your alti. What is drawing off your battery? Amps and crap? Do you have pullies? ???

 

I have one amp, no pullies, different head unit. I think what did it in, is that since I shorted it out, I drove it a day, then when I came home, it crapped out when i was putting the windows up. I think I must have been driving solely on the battery, or solely on the alternator, or something? I really have no idea.

Yeah, I know buting the parts myself and installing them would be alot cheaper. But my dad would never let me do that since I ****ed up the car in the first place. Oh well, lesson learned: I cant do the simplest of installs.