Battery/Alternator/Starter Problems

[bordjord]

I have a Mercruiser Model 5.7/LX 350 MAG V-8 1996 that has been running great since putting it in the water early May. I was out all day last Monday and left a light on inside, draining the battery until I returned Saturday. I brought the battery to a nearby shop and the guy brought it in the back and charged it for 90 minutes. When i brought the battery back to the boat for connecting, i connected the black to neg and when touching red to pos there was intense sparking so I stopped immediately, also some smoke coming from the alternator. The engine compartment is tight so I could not see where exactly on the alternator it was coming from. I disconnected the red wiring connecting the alternator and then reconnected the battery with no sparking but I tried to crank the engine and when turning the key there was nothing, just a sound like a small motor of some sorts running (almost like the bilge pump but not that). I only have access to the boat on the weekends so if I need any new parts id like to get them now so I can replace over the weekend. Do you think I'll need a new alternator, starter, battery, etc?

Thanks.

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: Battery/Alternator/Starter Problems

my wild guess is you hooked the battery up backwards or the guy charged it backwords. It would just take a minute to check this with a volt meter.

 

[fishinpa]

Re: Battery/Alternator/Starter Problems

The sound like a small motor running is most likely your starter motor ,turning but no engagement at the gear .

At this pointit is possible that you have several problems caused by the arcing at battery or the source of it when initially hooking up

what happened when you hooked the cables up could indicate ,you first hooked them up backwards or there is a very large draw on the system.
ie you had a lot of accessories turned on while doing it or you have wiring /alternator or other elictrical problems.

need to at least unhook battery have it charged and checked,if alt was smoking unhook it until you follow electrical checks and look for problems in that area.

before hooking battery back up be Absolutely positive that you are placing the correct + cable to + terminal and ground.

you have a bit of testing to do here !


fish