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[raymie440]

Having purchased a new alternator for my 3.2 I got round to fitting it today. I have been charging the battery all week ready to go in. All work done, looking good, connect the negative battery terminal and major sparks and then smoke from the area of the alternator! I've only gone and connected the battery in reverse polarity!

Quickly disconnected and turned battery round the right way. Car starts and runs, when I removed the key the battery light stayed on, started again then all sorts of lights on the dash, Speedo and rev counter going to zero then jumping up to a figure then back down to zero. Car now won't start. Battery has been removed.

Have I killed my car? I'm absolutely gutted!

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Someone here will be able to advise better but I think the answer is quite possibly some nasty damage done. Not sure if there's any fuses / relays which may have blown to protect the more expensive stuff. However, if you have mullered it in the extreme, have a feeling you 'just' need a new ECU and other bits. And touch wood a 3.2 Omega isn't a rare beast, most FLs left seem to be 3.2s. Touch wood, all is repairable. 

[raymie440]

I'm not sure how bad it is but I drove it round the block after doing the damage, car felt underpowered but the fan is working the windows are working also the heated seats etc. I am sincerely hoping it may just be a new regulator on the alternator and possibly a new battery. If not it may unfortunately be getting dismantled for parts to try and recoup some of the money I have spent on it.

[TheBoy]

What voltage is the battery.

You may well have fried the alternators reg pack, but unlikely any further damage done to car...

[raymie440]

12v battery, car started 3 or 4 times after the event. Battery now charging again when it was removed it was showing about 6-7volts.

[TheBoy]

When charged, start it, measure voltage when running. Suspect it will be either 12v still, or above 15v.

[omegod]

Last one I had involvement with had fried the alternator and blew the abs fuse , other than that it survived

[zirk]

Sounds like the Voltage regulator on the Alternator to me, when they go high voltage they can through the Autobox into limp mode which might explain it being under powered.

As said check the charging voltage, if it is high, switch off and dont drive it till its fixed.

[raymie440]

Thanks for the replies, very much appreciated. Battery is charging at the moment so I'll get it all checked soon. Have contacted the manufacturer of the alternator with regards to a new regulator. Fingers crossed!

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Had my fingers crossed for you since I read your first post! Hope it goes well 

[Dave DND]

As others have said - replace the smokey alternator pack and check all fuses

When you think you have checked them all, check them again, and again


I say this because we get a lot of customers sending stuff to us after battery polarity issues, and there is always a hidden fuse somewhere that gets overlooked.

Seldom does any more damage, and you would be real unlucky if it had.

[raymie440]

Thanks for the messages of support, part ordered just waiting on it arriving. I'll post when I get it changed over.

[raymie440]

Latest update in the saga. Got the new regulator, changed it over, refitted alternator and battery (correctly). Car started and seemed to be running good, went to get the multimeter to check output at the battery, boom, stinking smell and smoke pouring out from the alternator again. New alternator required? or scrap everything and start again?

[TheBoy]

What did the smoke smell of?

It may just be dampness heating off.  What were the readings on meter?

[Kevin Wood]

I think you might well find the rectifier in the alternator is dead, not just the regulator.

Given that smoke has come out, it could well have damaged the stator windings too.