jesp0910

I have an '83 280zx. The alternator crapped out so I replaced it and the car ran fine. My fiance was putting in a stero and speakers for me and the car started running really rough, like it wasn't gettin enough fuel. He shut the car off to take a look and the fusible link was fried. He looked and couldn't find any other burned wires so he by passed the link....I know bad idea. Now I have NO power at all. The only thing that works is the ACC power for the windows. I can't even get the car to turn over. Any idea would help thanks.

duckyz

Wow. So many things could be wrong, I don't know where to start.

We need to know a few things:

1. Where did your fiance get the power from?

2. Are you running amps, sub boxes, and things that suck a lot of power?

3. Do you know what fusible link got fried?

4. Is the new system grounded properly?

I'm sure I'm missing a few key questions, but those are the ones I could think of off the top of my head.

jesp0910

The power came from same power supply as old radio, no amps or sub boxes. The accessory link is the one that fried, and he used the same ground as the old radio.

jesp0910

Can anyone give me any ideas... I have looked at every wire in my car, and even taken the dash out and haven't found anything. There are no burned wires behind the dash, or under the hood except at the fusible link. Please any ideas are help at this point.

skib

theres no one solution to your problem, it could be plenty of stuff down to a fried ECU.

we have no way of knowing what wires he shorted on what.

duckyz

Do the headlights come on? (I have a reason for asking that question...)

81-280zxnt

last year, my alternator died, but right before it did, it sent very strong pulses of current thoughout my 280zx... it fried my radio, radar detector, and the fuseable link...

i then had the alternator rebuilt, and replaced my fuseable link with a piece of wire...(bad idea) , it just burnt out and then my car eventually died again due to my alternator not charging the battery... took me a few time the hard way to discover that i needed the exact thing i use to have for a fuseable link...but after i replaced that, it ran great! and never died out on me since...

i know this isnt really advice, but its just a story that has a slight relation to your problem, so i thought i would share, i case of any ideas maybe comming to mind to fix your problem...

jesp0910

My headlights do not come on.

runningjalapeno

On the head lights check the fuses, on the burned fuseable link that happens when some wire that is positive goes to ground. The new alternator was not grounded correctly. Unhook the battery and unplug the alternator then replace the link and hookup the battery back up but make sure the alternator wires are not touching anything maybe put tape on the wires then turn the radio on if the fuse does not burn out then the problem is in the alternator.

duckyz

Yeah... sounds to me like the alternator was wired backwards. It happens. I did it once when I had a 300zx. I forgot to label which wire went where and I ended up on the short side of a 50/50 chance.

jesp0910

thanks. I'll try that.