Superformance electrical failure

[wanab5150]

On our trip last week to Morro Bay with the LA Cobra Group we made it to Hayward from Roseville where I observed the ammeter was reading slightly negative as I had the headlights on. Upon checking the fuse panel nothing was amiss.

Eventually the engine cooled and I reached under the alternator and found the 1 wire terminal broken. It was an easy fix but with my fumble fingers I accidentally touched the wire to ground (valve cover) on the way back to placing it on the terminal.

It sparked but I continued and got it attached to the alternator. The short was bad enough to kill the entire electrical system. Understand...complete electrical system... not ignition or charging system alone.

I made several phone calls to experts in the area but no over the phone diagnostic was offered. At 4pm Thursday I could not get any guarantee of repair that day and Friday was a crap shoot as the shop was full of other cars being built. Also spending the night in San Jose when we had a room booked in Carmel was not in the cards.

Anyway, AAA towed it back home and we took our Z3 as a replacement for the Cobra to Morro Bay for the weekend. We (the group)had many discussions with some involving a hidden fusible link from the alternator. Nothing was cut in stone.

I did follow one SPF owners guide to placing a jumper wire from the battery post on the solenoid to the 60 Amp fuse in the fuse panel (just as a test). Viola! The jumper restored power to everything.

I'm open to ideas and suggestions other than (get a wiring diagram), (did you check all the fuses), (why didn't you disconnect the battery first stupid!)

Pending ideas I'll remove the wiring harness in the engine compartment and see what I find.....I'd just rather not. Thanks all. tom

[Bill D]

Do you have a master fuse that could have blown?

[wanab5150]

I defer to ideas and suggestions not to ask #2...... But yes, the master is the 60 amp I used to jump from the solenoid to the master (60 A fuse) I refer to. But thanks.

[JWilly]

This sounds dumb, but I had an electrical issue (sorta, maybe, a bit similar to yours) and ended up replacing the ignition switch.

[Tom Howland]

I have done the exact same thing. I had a blown fuse. On another car I work on we had a loose terminal that had sparked and then became inoperable. You couldn't see the carbon because it was under the terminal. I stared loosening and tightening the all the terminals on the terminal bock and found it. I think you just need to start checking on the path away from the initial spark. It could be the crimp on the terminals also.

[wanab5150]

The switch sounds like a possibility. Also I will check all the terminals I can find.... Thanks to both of you.