installing new battery and smoke, won't start now |
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installing new battery and smoke, won't start now |
howelljames |
Apr 24 2017, 08:13 PM
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#1
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 18 Joined: 27-March 17 From: Sarasota, FL Member No.: 20,967 Region Association: South East States |
so installing a new battery in car. positive first. pushed negative on and immediately smoking from engine. pulled cables off. put old battery back in, I get lights, turns over, but won't start. The original battery is weak but has started car just prior to this. what did I destroy?
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howelljames |
Apr 24 2017, 08:28 PM
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#2
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 18 Joined: 27-March 17 From: Sarasota, FL Member No.: 20,967 Region Association: South East States |
so installing a new battery in car. positive first. pushed negative on and immediately smoking from engine. pulled cables off. put old battery back in, I get lights, turns over, but won't start. The original battery is weak but has started car just prior to this. what did I destroy? I'm guessing coil, but WTF? I've installed batteries before, never had this. I just had terminals off to install battery tender couple of days ago. no problem. |
N_Jay |
Apr 24 2017, 08:31 PM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 283 Joined: 2-March 16 From: Chicago NW Burbs Member No.: 19,720 Region Association: None |
Something odd. You sure your batter was not backwards?
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iankarr |
Apr 24 2017, 08:36 PM
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#4
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The wrencher formerly known as Cuddy_K Group: Members Posts: 2,472 Joined: 22-May 15 From: Heber City, UT Member No.: 18,749 Region Association: Intermountain Region |
Did the smoke happen with the key in the off position? If so, I'd suspect a short between the battery and the ignition switch...
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boxsterfan |
Apr 24 2017, 09:35 PM
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#5
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914's are kewl Group: Members Posts: 1,776 Joined: 6-June 03 From: San Ramon, CA Member No.: 791 Region Association: Northern California |
FI or carbs? If FI, points or electronic ignition (pertronix typically).
1. First thing I would do is listen for fuel pump (and listen for fuel flowing). 2. Next would be check for spark. |
Rand |
Apr 24 2017, 09:46 PM
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#6
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Cross Member Group: Members Posts: 7,409 Joined: 8-February 05 From: OR Member No.: 3,573 Region Association: None |
Smoke from engine is a little vague. Were you able to get any sense of *where* around the engine? Like from the dizzy, or another part of the engine bay? If the polarity was correct, it seems odd that just connecting the battery would fry something, unless there was something out of place to create a short (exposed wire, misplaced tool, etc).
Rooting for you... keep us posted. |
howelljames |
Apr 25 2017, 04:08 AM
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#7
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 18 Joined: 27-March 17 From: Sarasota, FL Member No.: 20,967 Region Association: South East States |
Something odd. You sure your batter was not backwards? sure. double checked several times before installed. the smoke came from back of engine where grounds are, and underneath. (starter? alternator?) I did think i had it backwards, but I did not. That would explain it, but it was correct. |
howelljames |
Apr 25 2017, 04:11 AM
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#8
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 18 Joined: 27-March 17 From: Sarasota, FL Member No.: 20,967 Region Association: South East States |
Did the smoke happen with the key in the off position? If so, I'd suspect a short between the battery and the ignition switch... it did happen with key off. I have noticed that to start the car, I really have to force key over. first 914, so just thought a characteristic. |
howelljames |
Apr 25 2017, 04:18 AM
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#9
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 18 Joined: 27-March 17 From: Sarasota, FL Member No.: 20,967 Region Association: South East States |
Smoke from engine is a little vague. Were you able to get any sense of *where* around the engine? Like from the dizzy, or another part of the engine bay? If the polarity was correct, it seems odd that just connecting the battery would fry something, unless there was something out of place to create a short (exposed wire, misplaced tool, etc). Rooting for you... keep us posted. tools were in pocket, lol. smoke from back of engine, near all the grounds, and underneath car directly below. The car has the "voltmeter tick" when you use turn signals. I was starting with new battery to see if solved (also car been sitting and battery old). as soon as I lowered neg terminal onto post - sparks and smoke. I immediately removed and smoke kept coming. i hosed down engine bay (freaked out a little I guess). put old battery back in, no issues except cranks but no start. I get zero on voltmeter when cranking. don't know if thats normal. |
howelljames |
Apr 25 2017, 04:20 AM
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#10
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 18 Joined: 27-March 17 From: Sarasota, FL Member No.: 20,967 Region Association: South East States |
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AvdDrift |
Apr 25 2017, 04:27 AM
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#11
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 1 Joined: 15-February 16 From: Australia Member No.: 19,674 Region Association: None |
Try this, apparently works on old Lotus'.
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Big Len |
Apr 25 2017, 06:34 AM
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#12
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,747 Joined: 16-July 13 From: Edgewood, New Mexico Member No.: 16,126 Region Association: Southwest Region |
Weird problem. i think i would first check the new battery. Defective? Try it with a battery from another car and see what happens.
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BillC |
Apr 25 2017, 07:06 AM
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#13
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 536 Joined: 24-April 15 From: Silver Spring, MD Member No.: 18,667 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
I agree -- check the battery. Use a voltmeter, and make sure the polarity and voltage are correct.
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bandjoey |
Apr 25 2017, 11:27 AM
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#14
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bandjoey Group: Members Posts: 4,923 Joined: 26-September 07 From: Bedford Tx Member No.: 8,156 Region Association: Southwest Region |
OT Side Note. someone here ( I'm too lazy to search) sold an inline battery fuse box. Never leave home without it. Here's a good reason to fuse the battery wires.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif) |
JoeD |
Apr 25 2017, 12:18 PM
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#15
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Member Group: Members Posts: 156 Joined: 19-July 15 From: Atlanta, GA Member No.: 18,973 Region Association: South East States |
OT Side Note. someone here ( I'm too lazy to search) sold an inline battery fuse box. Never leave home without it. Here's a good reason to fuse the battery wires. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif) I don't think he's making them any more... http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...p;#entry1528782 |
TheCabinetmaker |
Apr 25 2017, 12:26 PM
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#16
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I drive my car everyday Group: Members Posts: 8,300 Joined: 8-May 03 From: Tulsa, Ok. Member No.: 666 |
You're chasing a non problem. The turn signals, brakes, and lights all cause the volt meter to drop. It's a 914 thing.
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struckn |
Apr 25 2017, 01:13 PM
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#17
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,069 Joined: 9-November 11 From: South Central York Pennsyvania Member No.: 13,764 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
Did the smoke happen with the key in the off position? If so, I'd suspect a short between the battery and the ignition switch... it did happen with key off. I have noticed that to start the car, I really have to force key over. first 914, so just thought a characteristic. The above comment about forcing the Key raises a question......You shouldn't have had to force the key. There's 3 Key positions, Off, Run & Start if you only go back to the Run Position between attempted starts with out first going all the way back to Off Position it won't let you go to the start position unless you force the key which will break the plastic ignition modular. Easy mistake to make as newer cars let you just go back and forth between the Run and Start positions for multiple attempts to crank the engine. Cracked ignition switch in the steering column are no good. |
johnhora |
Apr 25 2017, 02:10 PM
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#18
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 866 Joined: 7-January 03 From: Derby City KY Member No.: 107 Region Association: None |
so installing a new battery in car. positive first. pushed negative on and immediately smoking from engine. pulled cables off. put old battery back in, I get lights, turns over, but won't start. The original battery is weak but has started car just prior to this. what did I destroy? Apparently new battery has the reverse polarity of your old battery. You burned up the starter. |
Rand |
Apr 25 2017, 02:19 PM
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#19
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Cross Member Group: Members Posts: 7,409 Joined: 8-February 05 From: OR Member No.: 3,573 Region Association: None |
so installing a new battery in car. positive first. pushed negative on and immediately smoking from engine. pulled cables off. put old battery back in, I get lights, turns over, but won't start. The original battery is weak but has started car just prior to this. what did I destroy? Apparently new battery has the reverse polarity of your old battery. You burned up the starter. How do you figure it's the starter? He said it turns over. I'd think whatever let the smoke out is causing it to not get spark or fuel now. I'd check spark first because it only takes a minute. Pull a plug wire, stick a spark plug in it, ground the threads to the case, have someone crank it, watch for spark. At least that will narrow down which path to start tracing. |
phatnine11 |
Apr 25 2017, 04:14 PM
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#20
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Member Group: Members Posts: 286 Joined: 22-March 05 From: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Member No.: 3,798 |
Just a quick question, if you are able to connect the old battery without any smoke issues, turn the key to the "on" position, do you get a gen light on your gauge? . The problem I had was the switch would crank the engine, but there was no power to the fuel pump or ignition system. Disconnect the distributor from the coil and check for 12 volts at the positive side of the coil. If there is no power, Then check for power at the fuel pump. If there is no power at the fuel pump, I would replace the ignition switch. This procedure is well documented on the Bird Board and the switch is less than 20 bucks. I just went through this and everything seems to flow through the ignition switch. The power lead from the battery goes straight to the ignition switch, which is un-fused.
Good luck, Phatnine11 |
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