fire. what did i burn up?

fierochris · 11-12-2006, 11:38 AM

I was attempting once again to get my 71' 911T started. well somehow i didnt notce that i was installing the battery backwards. well i hooked up the terminals and was about to start turning when i smelled smoke. i looked towards the back of the car and seen the cloud of smoke coming from the deck lid.

heres what i found burned. what peice does this connector go to?

also. what else would have possibly burned from the reversed battery? the Cd possibly?

tab tanner · 11-12-2006, 02:56 PM

Voltage regulator plug, CD box, Alternator diodes. All of these things come to mind

fierochris · 11-12-2006, 03:14 PM

what is the visibly burned connector in my hand for?

Ohio911 · 11-12-2006, 05:20 PM

I am guessing(pros will chime in i'm sure) voltage regulator because I seem to remember a blue wire in the harness which connects to the alternator. It would seem right to me because there is a direct link between the battery and the regulator. So if it was reversed damage could result.

john walker's workshop · 11-12-2006, 05:59 PM

comes from the alternator, plugs into the suppressor, which connects to the regulator. that blue ignition unit doesn't like backward voltage much. the alternator likes it about the same. checkbook out.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Replace the PermaTune CD box with a Bosch or MSD unit!

fierochris · 11-12-2006, 11:30 PM

thanks ohio, and john. ill check them.

azasadny: I dont believe msds where availble in 71' and i dont believe a bosch unit is a original unit either?

Im sure that a msd or bosch unit would be a great system though.

john walker's workshop · 11-13-2006, 07:07 AM

.

Rob 930 · 11-13-2006, 09:13 AM

Fierochris,

You might want to consider changing your username. With a name like that, you're just asking for trouble like this!

Rob

fierochris · 11-13-2006, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rob 930
Fierochris,

You might want to consider changing your username. With a name like that, you're just asking for trouble like this!

Rob

lol..
yeah maybe.. but then again, Out of the 14 fieros ive owned 13 are still on the road (t boned by a drunk in a ford excursion going 60 in one) but im sure once i get the 911 on the road ill be hooked just as badly. and unlike the fieros there wont be any V8 swaps under the deck lid of this one.

Early_S_Man · 11:00 AM

Chris,

Your 1971 911T did, indeed, come with an OEM Bosch CDI unit. While your blue Permatune can probably be repaired, a used Bosch unit is a better choice for the long term.

Your regulator and wiring are not original '71 style ... update to '74-style was done at some point. Included in that update was an unecessary and troublesome noise suppressor circled in the annotated pic below. The braided cable unplugs from the bottom of the reguator and the suppressor can be removed and discarded! Your alternator can be rebuilt, and you will need to replace the regulator.

I suggest that the entire electrical panel be removed for repairs. Two 14-pin plugs and a few two and three-pin misc. plugs, plus three bolts are all that need to be undone to remove the panel. It looks like you will need new Black, Blue and Brown wires to the rear [engine] 14-pin connector, and probably the same from the mating 14-pin connector to alternator -- part of engine wiring harness.

A high-resolution, color, factory schematic for your car's electrical system is available to download, here:

http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars/SL35-Master.pdf

Kmatts · 11-13-2006, 12:41 PM

As John mentioned, this could get expensive. After you pull out the alternator, check to see how many other wires in the harness got damaged because they were next to the badly burned wire(s). I've seen this happen in a later car, where nearly all the wires in the harness had to be replaced because of the heat generated in the one or two wires melted/damaged the housing of other wires.
sorry to hear about this, but I do admire you for admitting your mistake.
K.