Hey guys,

What do think I smoked running the car without the alternator harness connected to the alternator, only the batt.

First start after getting the car back together. It cranked and fired right up. Ran it for ~10mins. until up to operating temp. Now nothing. Lights/fuel pump work but wont crank.

Do you think wiring to the starter or maybe the starter itself?


I'm going to furthur inspect the car today but thought I'd ask the community as well!


Thanks,
Scott.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but you shouldn't have fried anything, as the car will run w/o the alt connnected. However, as you stated it will kill the battery very quickly and the PCM will then shut the car down when it detects too low a voltage. Not sure but I think this is correct. Did you try a new bat or having yours checked and charged? Also, double check your PCM ground (black wire above the starter on the block) and make sure it's hooked up correctly as I had a similar problem where everything powered up but the starter wouldn't engage. Also, might take your starter off (if all else fails) and take it to AZ or AdvanceAuto and have them test it to make sure it's ok.

 

Thanks Dave,

The battery cranked the car real nice on the first start. Then noting on day two. I put the half-amp charger on it for 24hrs and the batt was right up to full.

I have a bad feeling I know what the problem is. I have little to no clearance from my turbo downpipe to the starter. Starter is the LT4 Corvette starter with homemade heat shield. The heat shield is literally wedged between the starter body and the turbo pipe. There was most deficiently a lot of heat transfer to the starter I would think.

Should have done it right and gotten a mini starter.

Still curious if not having the harness connected to the alt. could have made a difference. After you post Dave, I think the exhaust heat killed the starter.


Thanks again,
Scott.

 

That's most likely the case, take that starter and get it tested to be sure. Also, check the cables to the starter from the battery as you could have burned thru one and it's grounding somewhere.