While turning over my 65 gto sparks flew from the alternator.Now every thing is dead.No voltage to the fuse box,battery checks ok.(12.6v).Where do I start to troubleshoot?

While turning over my 65 gto sparks flew from the alternator.Now every thing is dead.No voltage to the fuse box,battery checks ok.(12.6v).Where do I start to troubleshoot?

Probably the fusible link, in the harness at the rear of the driver's side valve cover usually. It acts as a fuse and it is probably blown from your description of the alternator sparking.

George

goerge..Im not able to locate the fuseable link you refered to..however that does sound like the problem.With the ignition on I have 12v in the engine harness,but nothing at the fuse box.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by toplessgoat:
With the ignition on I have 12v in the engine harness,but nothing at the fuse box. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Which is symptomatic of the problem. The current runs from the battery to the alternator to the fuse box I believe.

The '64 diagram shows the battery feed going to the horn relay/junction block, then thru the firewall to a splice, then back out thru the firewall to the alternator.

If yours is like the '64, follow the cable from the alternator, see where it goes, and keep checking the voltage on the cable until you find the break. The fusible link, if present, is a small length of smaller gauge wire connected in between the alternator cable and the battery feed. It's supposed to blow in the event of a engine harness fault like you had.

Perhaps a forum member can supply a diagram for a '65?

George

Toplessgoat: a schematic for the '65 a-bodies is now available in the elctrical forum courtesy of Bill Morgan. It does not show a fusible link but you've got to have a break in there somewhere...

George

In that pic,isn't this the fusible link?

If you have power to the alternator, see if you have power to terminal 3 on voltage regulator and terminal 4 also.
If you have power there it's probably the wire going to the horn relay. Check there to see if there's power. If not run a jumper wire from battery to that terminal.Check for power in the car.

I don't think so, John. If it is, it looks like it's the feed to the horn relay, the schematic doesn't show it continuing on to feed the rest of the harness. Maybe the big splice (shown as the big dot below and to the left of the regulator) went bad when the alt grounded the output (at least that what it sounds like happened.)

Ive tryed everything..I have voltage at 3&4 at regulator,alternator,horn relay,and the ignition switch and its still dead.I swapped the entire under dash harness with a spare I had and still nothing...Do think it may be a ground issue?Thanks for all the feedback so far and the schematic was a huge help!
Mike V.

You have power at the ignition switch but it's still dead?
What's dead?
Headlights work?
dash lights work?
Or is it that the car won't start?

Is there a ground strap from engine block to the firewall?
The battery ground wire connected to the engine?

re:dead
We are now undead!After redoing all my grounds the old goat came back to life....Guess I should have called Mr.Odvious FIRST!!!!lol...Thanks Guys

Congrats! http://forums.performanceyears.com/g.../icon_cool.gif

Yep, people get accustomed to thinking that car wiring is just the battery positive side wiring because the negative side is the metal (and straps) and taken for granted.

George

now ya gotta put the pedal to da metal, cause yer a lotta laps behind! http://forums.performanceyears.com/g...on_biggrin.gif
and don't let up on the turns.