Notices
Engine Performance This section is for discussion on all engine building related questions.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: KPower

Engine wont start after battery imploded

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 26, 2010 | 05:40 PM
  #1  
flier129's Avatar
Thread Starter
Elite Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,750
Total Cats: 320
From: Statesville, NC
Default Engine wont start after battery imploded

Well I thought I could do this one on my own, like the last 3-4 problems Ive ran into. But this is proving to be a challenge to me.

Basically what happened was I used a 01 alternator in my 97 body. Was going down the road, car had been running fine for 3 days but it smelt like burning sulfur. Suddenly the windshield wipers came on, obscenely fast, the speakers start having a lot of feedback, then BOOM, speakers crack, smoke comes out from under the dash and the engine stops. I stop, pop the trunk and find my battery like this:

Name:  IMG_4029.jpg
Views: 271
Size:  87.8 KB




Sooo..... the battery held up until 30 volts. Now Im trying to track down these problems of why my car wont start.

Got a new battery.
Check all fuses and replaced bad ones.
MS sends and receives data so its fine.
Cleaned the grounds

The car cranks over, so the battery is working, its just not firing :(. Could it of fried my coils? The engine was running fine while it started overcharging but I guess it could of shorted them out, even though they were brand new :(.

Any help is appreciated!
Old Apr 26, 2010 | 05:47 PM
  #2  
UrbanSoot's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (24)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,667
Total Cats: 18
From: Woodland Hills, CA
Default

probably fired your coils
Old Apr 26, 2010 | 05:54 PM
  #3  
flier129's Avatar
Thread Starter
Elite Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,750
Total Cats: 320
From: Statesville, NC
Default

Originally Posted by UrbanSoot
probably fired your coils
****..... I keep telling myself this isn't it because I just bought those.


Who else thinks its my coils? I got a friend helping me tomorrow to check for spark.
Old Apr 26, 2010 | 07:13 PM
  #4  
cardriverx's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,573
Total Cats: 12
From: Hermosa Beach, CA
Default

i wouldent doubt it if they were getting 30v. should check the injectors too.
Old Apr 26, 2010 | 07:15 PM
  #5  
Jeff_Ciesielski's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,770
Total Cats: 31
From: Rhode Island
Default

If I were you , I would also pop the megasquirt out and inspect the board for any damage. Just because it will communicate doesn't necessarily mean that nothing was damaged. Things of note: Check the regulator and all capacitors. If it smells like fishes, you popped a capacitor.
Old Apr 26, 2010 | 09:38 PM
  #6  
TurboRoach's Avatar
Junior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 488
Total Cats: 3
From: Gig Harbor, WA
Default

Do you have anything regulating the voltage from the alternator?
Old Apr 26, 2010 | 10:12 PM
  #7  
hingstonwm's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 904
Total Cats: 14
From: Denver
Default

Looks like bad voltage regulator to me. The sulfur smell is typical of an over charging battery. The big question will be what electronics got fried in the process. Good luck
Old Apr 26, 2010 | 10:33 PM
  #8  
chicksdigmiatas's Avatar
Elite Member
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,498
Total Cats: 1
From: Texas, 'Murica
Default

That sucks, i dont know if i have extra coils at the house back home. I will holler at my brother and check. If they are there, i will have him bring them to an event. Remember, COPs are an option too
Old Apr 26, 2010 | 10:55 PM
  #9  
TurboRoach's Avatar
Junior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 488
Total Cats: 3
From: Gig Harbor, WA
Default

The later alternators are regulated by the ecu. So unless you use the 01+ ecu or some external circuit the alternator wasn't being regulated at all. Hence the 30V. I don't know if there is a circuit for the MS that does this.
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 09:10 AM
  #10  
flier129's Avatar
Thread Starter
Elite Member
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,750
Total Cats: 320
From: Statesville, NC
Default

I swapped back to the 97 alternator.

Isnt the MS fused so it doesnt fry in a case like this?

Ill try to pin point the problem today
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 09:49 AM
  #11  
BarbyCar's Avatar
Junior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 471
Total Cats: 25
From: Toronto, Canada
Default

Originally Posted by flier129
Isnt the MS fused so it doesnt fry in a case like this?
Fuses blow with current (amps) not voltage.
Old Apr 27, 2010 | 09:53 AM
  #12  
ArtieParty's Avatar
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,118
Total Cats: 0
From: Trenton, NJ
Default

Main engine relay?
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
zephyrusaurai
Meet and Greet
2
Sep 28, 2015 10:59 PM
viriiguy
General Miata Chat
5
Sep 28, 2015 07:39 PM
btabor
ECUs and Tuning
10
Sep 28, 2015 05:33 PM
ihiryu
General Miata Chat
9
Sep 28, 2015 10:22 AM




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:09 AM.