Smoke from near alternator

[69bronzeT5]

My Duster when we first tried starting it, either the alternator or the wiring right behind the alternator started smoking a bit. We kept going and the smoke stopped. We tried starting it again (testing the old starter) but I saw no smoke. The wiring all looks fine behind the starter so what was with the smoke? And why is there no smoke now? I'm not complaining about no smoke of course but just curious

[mikepmcs]

Maybe it was just some stuff/junk/dust.... tucked into the alternator and it got burned up when the thing was winding up.  What did it smell like??

Sometimes the best way to find the source is to burn it up, that's not a good theory by the way.

Next time, please stop, check out the wiring, and if all looks good, then proceed with caution. 

Found some wiring nightmare(burnt up bundle) on my 67 Coronet yesterday just when I was about to get her back on the road after screwing with that thing for days.  Took a few hours and some running around, but the wiring is clean and now my horn works as it should(never did and the wire was just hanging there).  So I have to wait another week to get it on the road due to needing a new tranny pan gasket but it's better than having a burned up car.

By the way, FSM's I now highly recommend them.

[69bronzeT5]

Well when it started smoking, we stopped. Then we waited a minute, tried again and it smoked again. So we stopped and got the car towed to my grandparents. Then when we tried a few weeks later, there was no smoke. I was figuring like you said, about dirt and crap in there. Regarding smell, no idea. I never bothered to smell it. The smoke was white, almost light grey in colour.

[mikepmcs]

hmmmm, probably not dust then.  Wiring has a very distinct smell and you cannot mistake it.  Trying or not, you would have caught a whiff.
I guess the only thing I can say is next time you are at the car, look over all the wires around the alternator and look for anything out of the ordinary(charred/bubbled tape, melted insulation, etc...)  I would disconnect the battery and check for loose wires all around the area. 

Could have just been an anomaly, but my electronics experience tells me, it might be a sign of something bigger.

[69bronzeT5]

I could be wrong but if it was wiring burning, wouldn't it be black? I checked the wires around it and they looked fine. Some of the outer wrap was loose (kinda peeled) but the inner type wrap on the wires was fine.

[bordin34]

Nope, wire burning from too much heat or amperage is a nice grayish white.

[mikepmcs]

I was just thinking out loud as in what the heck was it, not necessarily saying it was wiring or it wasn't wiring

[69bronzeT5]

Wiring is what I figured.

[69bronzeT5]

It's the fat black wire that is capped at the end. Looks like a ground wire? My dad said the wires aren't getting hot. I got a question though. Right now we are shorting out the starter relay to start it (bad relay- replacing it very soon), could that cause the alternator to smoke?


PS: I HATE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS

[firefighter3931]

Cody, make sure that the heavy black wire connection is tight...that is the main power feed to the bulkhead connection on the firewall. Loose connections will create resistance and heat...which in turn can cause smoke if any dirt or crud were in the area. Keep those wires isolated from heat....tape them up.



Ron

[69bronzeT5]

So what am I supposed to tape up? The end of the black wire that is capped?

[mikepmcs]

Cody
Ron is talking about the wires themselves, keep them from the heat in general.  Taping them in turn insulates them from the heat and also you need to move them away from heat sources as well(exhaust/engine, etc......)
Can you take some better pics of that wire nest you have going on there please so we can sort this out.
It appears to have a wire nut on there holding/capping the wires.  We are gonna clean this up.  As far as the hose goes, that looks like aftermarket hose that you would buy at a auto parts store to me. ie: standard replacement hose. What's Chris G's color on his? You know that is most likely correct color wise.

[69bronzeT5]

Well, all the other wires look to be in the right place. That black wire is the only one that's capped and is questionable. However, I'm going to Vancouver tomorrow night to drive the car home on Saturday and I have no computer there so I can't get pics up

[mikepmcs]

Take some electrical tape then and wrap em up good for the ride home.

[69bronzeT5]

Take some electrical tape then and wrap em up good for the ride home.

Think that will stop the smoking or? Like it's not major smoke...just little puffs of it.

[mikepmcs]

If it is still smoking...you gotta find the source of that smoke prior to driving it home.  If you don't then you will possibly burn the car up.  I know you are excited as heck to get the car home but take a few minutes and clean up the compartment(i'm not talking washing it), rewrap wires, tighten things, etc......
Look for bare spots in the wires, loose connections anything that might be causing issues.  If you can get it dark in there, start it up and look for arcing(easier to see sparks in the dark as well as glowing hot wires)
You have to take the time to do this without exception. 

Once you have tightened up things, repaired loose connections, made sure no wires are cut and everything is in good order, then wrap the wires with electrical tape.  At that point you have done what you can do. 

Make sure you disconnect the battery first before you go pokin around.
Mike

[69bronzeT5]

Well, I've checked the wires around the area where it smoked and I didn't see any bare wires. The only thing it might be is...not too sure but somebody spray painted the alternator, maybe it's the paint that got on the inside burning off maybe? Also....we looked when it was smoking and the wires were not getting hot. All looks fine except that capped black wire

[mikepmcs]

Do you know where the capped black wire goes or why it's capped off?
Is it a wire from the horn relay or something else like the washer pump?   
The paint idea is a possibility.

[69bronzeT5]

Do you know where the capped black wire goes or why it's capped off?
Is it a wire from the horn relay or something else like the washer pump?   
The paint idea is a possibility.

I've heard from a couple I people that it's the main power feed wire for the alternator. It basically just comes straight out of the wiring harness (the one where the alternator wires come from) and then it's capped.

[mikepmcs]

you mean that fat black wire that is in the left of the picture is part of that cluster of wires that is all nutted together , something ain't right there. Like Ron said that is the main feed so how can it be capped off? 
Read Ron's post again and make sure that baby is tight and if it is tapping off power with other wires that everything is secure and neatly done.  Isn't that just supposed to go straight to the bulkhead(i'm thinking out loud here)

[69bronzeT5]

I think you just hit something there!!!! Do you think the wire broke and somebody just put a cap on it and left it? If so, what's the best way to fix it? Solder them back together?

[375instroke]

Could it have been some oil on the exhaust right behind the alternator that burned?

[69bronzeT5]

Could it have been some oil on the exhaust right behind the alternator that burned?

Well, that you mention it, there was actually oil on the actual wires themselves.

[mjwebb]

make sure there are washers on the connection...my alternator wire did not and the bolt on the alt got orange hot and was smoking and actually had a little flame goin on

[69bronzeT5]

Well now I'm kinda worried after seeing this...

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,19511.0.html