direct short, what do i do?

[mikeE72]

after working for two days putting an oil pump in i took my truck out for a short ride. when i got back the check engine light came on and when i tried to start it again to show my dad the engine wouldnt turn over. all we heard was click like the battery was dead so after a full day of charging the battery i decided to try it again. once again all it did was click and a little smoke came off one of the terminals though im not sure wich one but i think it was the ground then i noticed the ground was hot. so i followed the ground back and found that there was a split in it from rubbing on the frame. then i replaced the ground with one i had from a boat. but there were two wires that were attached to the ground terminal and not wanting to be in worse shape i reconected them to the new ground. one of them lead into a bundle of wires behind the battery and with it disconected i had no warning lights(CEL, low oil pressure.....) the other ran to the body of the truck right in front of the - terminal. the starter cable looked to be in good shape and there was a slight draw on the battery at all times but some times it was stonger than others. even with bolth connected and disconected all it would do is click. i havent had tis truck out once without something breaking.

thanks
mike E

 

[MAKG]

Umm, the ground is SUPPOSED to be shorted to the frame.

Something is drastically wrong in this description.

 

[mikeE72]

also whil i was under the truck putting the starter on before we took it for a ride my friend hooked up the charger on the battery when i heard the charger strugling i crawled out and looked at it and the needle was burried in the high side. i snatched the charger cables off only to see they were backwards. could this have any thing to do with the battery being dead and the truck not wanting to start. maybe the battery was so dead even after i charged it today it couldnt start it.

 

[MAKG]

If you jumped the battery backwards, you may have ruined it, along with the PCM.

This is a VERY bad thing to do.

 

[mikeE72]

he didnt jump it he hooked the charger up to it back wards it was a old 20 amp charger i believe

 

[jagar147]

Putting the charger on backwards ruined the battery,quite possibly the PCM.Also the negative cable on the battery should only go to ground,NOT a bundle of wires behind the battery.Sounds like you connected the cables backwards.In either case you've fried the battery.Take it to your local parts store and they can check it.Was the new starter new or used,if used it could have a short in it.When you put in a new battery trace the negative cable,make sure it is going to ground on the frame or engine to be sure your dealing with the negative cable.It ONLY goes to a ground.

 

[MAKG]

Actually, a stock 1988 has THREE ground cables. A big one that goes the frame and engine block, a smaller one that goes to a nearby spot on the fender (body ground), and a third that goes directly to the PCM (through its wiring harness).

The distinction between "jumping" and charging is not very significant. Reversed polarity is a very bad thing.

 

[mikeE72]

thanks thats the three grounds i was talking about. i have never see4n something like that before so i thought the guy who had the truck before me gheto rigged it. the battery is fine. i know this because i tested it and i dont think its the starter cause it only started happening after the battery was charged backwards. ive heard something like we may have reversed the polarity in the altenator diode or something like that can you explain to me about this reverse polarity because i vaugly understand it.
thanks

 

[MAKG]

I know you're not going to like this, but if you don't understand polarity, put your tools down and call a tow truck. You can ONLY do more damage.

It's in every book about basic electricity.

 

[AllanD]

Hooking up a 20amp battery charger backwards MAY zorch the PCM but only "may"

However that 20Amp charger hooked up backwards almost certainly blew out the Rectifier diodes in the alternator.

The alternator simply cannot charge the battery with unregulated A/C three
phase it'll generate with the diodes shorted.

additionally that A/C voltage makes it impossible for the PCM to
get indications from any of the sensors as the voltage fluctuates
even if it did survive.

And to be honest chances are it did, PCM's are harder to kill than you'd think

AD

 

[shadetree]

Hooking the charger backwards could well have fried the ignition module also. BTDT. Neighbor had a 86 Cavalier. Friends were helping her out with a dead battery. Hooked it up backwards to jump the car. It took out the computer, ignition module, and a couple of fuses. Alternator survived.shady

 

[RangerFella]

I really don't mean to sound like a jerk or anything man, but...like someone else said, if you don't understand the concept of polarity you really should stay out from under the hood.

Here's what happened in the most basic terminology: You screwed up your truck by attaching a battery charger to the battery, while it was still connected to the truck, backwards. You probably did more damage than is repairable by you, yourself.

Quit while you're ahead and have someone who knows what they're doing look at it. I cannot, in good conscious, tell you to start messing around with MORE electrical components at this point. Just have someone fix it and be done with it, keep the hood closed after this.

 

[mikeE72]

piss off. i understand polarity probably as much as you but i dont like to dive into anything untill i have taken in enough info and learned enough that i fully understand it and have soaked up all the information that is presented to me. your not my mom and i dont need ypu telling me what i can and cant work on. i want people to explain it to me so i can better my understanding of it. thats like me telling you not to mess with a dirtbike if you dont know how to shim valves on a ohc dirtbike engine or not to mess with a dirtbike if you dont fully understand how a 40mm minkuni carb with a accelerator pump works which i doubt you do. so dont be a dick.