Alternator Shorted to Ground

[Larry767]

I have a 2011 Ram 1500 Laramie. Recently the alternator decided to short out and cause my battery to quickly drain. I caught this in time to save the battery I think but I had to remove the positive cable from the alternator in order to charge the battery and get it started again. I just got finished installing a new alternator and it does not seem to be charging. I suppose it's possible I didn't get the connector snapped all the way on (I'll check that tomorrow) but I'm wondering if the shorted alternator could have blown a fuse somewhere or possibly damaged the PCM? Any tips on what to check next?

 

[Brian Kormos]

Same truck and same problem.

 

[RamDiver]

Same truck and same problem.

Hi Brian,
There should be a 250 Amp inline fuse on the battery lead feeding the alternator.

You should be able to follow the large wire to the alternator and measure 12 VDC. If no 12 volts, follow the wire back towards the battery and you will find an inline fuse.

I'll find more info tomorrow when I get back to my PC, if someone else doesn't report sooner.

I'm using my phone now.

.

 

[JW2 Innovations]

I don't have wiring diagram for your year/make/model, but some others I've owned had inline fuses that I checked when encountering alternator/charging issues on some cabling in area of alternator/battery. Might want to get the wiring diagram for yours and see if that. Then check all related wiring for ground/short issues.

 

[Burla]

Hopefully you didnt fry the new Alternator. Ground issues will fry new stuff just as quick as old stuff, I speak from painful experience. Make sure you fix the issue before hanging another alt if needed.

 

[Burla]

I don't think you can have a so called short on the alt itself, but somewhere along the charging circuit. Maybe fuse or even battery ground, something like that. Damaged wire somewhere as well, that was my issue I kept frying transfer case motor because the wire to was broken. Test the alternator. After we figured out we fried both the old and new transfer case, we just rewired it, and solved the issue.

 

[crash68]

I don't think you can have a so called short on the alt itself

You can have the rectification circuit goto or leak to ground inside the alternator and can cause the battery to discharge or explode. That's why there is fuses inline to hopefully protect things from going bang or a thermal runaway.

 

[Brian Kormos]

Sorry. Have not replace the alternator yet. She must be shorted same as OP. My batt is dead I put a charger on it and my alternator starts buzzing and getting warm. My battery light has been coming on for the last week. Replacement alternator will be in on Monday and I can get this thing running.