Engine Problem

Alright this has been goin on for atleast a month with me trying to fix it. I bought this car off of my dads freind and he said i need a new starter and alternator.

I buy them both, both are installed and ready. I plug the alternator up and the battery. sparks come off the battery and the main fuse blows.

Ive probably went through 10 fuses and the engine still wont turn over. I have narrowed it down to the alternator becuase each time i plug the alternator up the fuse goes BOOM.

And i almost forgot to mention, its a 1991 Mercury Tracer... but an escort is the closest thing to it on this forum.

Anyone have any help or advice ? (serious advice)

Are you hooking up the alternator then the battery? If so, I'd say that the cable going from the battery to the alternator is grounded out somewhere. That's why the fuse blows-it's supposed to. If you have a test light try this: Make sure the ground is hooked up on the battery. Run the test light from the positive terminal on the battery to the positive battery clamp. If the light comes on then you have a grounded cable.

Either you have a short like he said, or your hooking up the battery backwards.

no im not hooking the battery up backwards.... thats the reason i had to get a new alternator, someone who had it before me hooked the battery up backwards. but ill try the light test in th morning..

Thanks, ill keep you guys informed of what i get so you can help me out

If the person before you hooked it up backwards; and it's still the same battery; wouldnt you think the battery would be shot?
:confused:

If the person before you hooked it up backwards; and it's still the same battery; wouldnt you think the battery would be shot?
:confused:


different battery

Did you try the test light?

I cant find it......

A multi-meter to measure the voltage will work just as well.