What else did I fry?
 

A loose jack in my trunk grounded my battery and left me stranded. The battery is trashed, there was some smoke in the trunk and the car wouldn't start.

It starts now with a new battery, so my plan is to drive it locally and see if there is more damage. I have an additional voltmeter in the dash to check charging.

What else might I have damaged? It's a '71 with a 3.2. DME? Alternator?

Stuck on the side of the road...can't even get focus to work, 3 hours waiting for a tow.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1102353600.jpg

It wasn't all bad though, got a ride in a friend's 2002 turbo earlier in the day.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1102353698.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1102353728.jpg

I understand the DME doesn't like overcharges, not sure if anything could be damaged by a short.

Maybe the Alternators diodes couldn't take the amperage and they blew out though. Not sure.

Good luck.

Since you esentially bypassed all circuits and went from + to frame, I'd bet it didn't damage anything....

Probably did some damage to the alternator and associated wiring (alternator to starter wire). Everything else (aside from the battery and alternator) should be OK.

I second David.

Only thing you could possibly damage is charge-regulator and associated wiring, as it's the only voltage source beside battery. Everything else should be OK.

Whoa...tell your buddy "nice bimmer". Actually, I've lusted over well sorted 2002's as much as 911's...can I say that here? :-)

R/
Dustin

Might wanna lose the jack as well...."I" would give it the float test....:p

Would be concerned about the diodes in the alternator. If the car starts and runs would hope that the DME computer is still ok.

JoeA