Mikemt68 Posted September 5, 2020 Report Share Posted September 5, 2020 Hey everyone, just bought a 1982 Eldorado. Drove it home about 1100 miles it did great. It sat for 2 weeks after that while I was at work. Started it up today fine, drove to the store. Came out and it wouldnt start, I replaced the battery and it fired up. drove it 5 minutes to my house and it began to smoke shut it off and opened the hood and the alternator had some flames coming out of it. Does not look like any wires were damaged or anything else, wanted to see if anybody knows the cause and if I should just replace it and see or if there is something else I should check. Thanks all..........4.1 ht4100 v8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted September 5, 2020 Report Share Posted September 5, 2020 Never heard of this happening. That you drove it 1100 miles, then this happened is odd. I could see the alternator overheating badly if you jumped a dead battery but you replaced the battery, very odd. There is very little in the alternator that can burn. Quote Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikemt68 Posted September 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2020 the belt that runs the alternator feels loose to me, I dont have a tension tester but will get one when I pick up the alternator in the morning. When I popped the hood there were flames coming out of the alternator but just blew on it and they went out. I replaced the battery because I did notice there was some acid coming out of the top just a little though so i figured better just replace it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikemt68 Posted September 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2020 Thanks for the reply @BodybyFisher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted September 5, 2020 Report Share Posted September 5, 2020 In such a short distance for it to get that hot to burst into a flame is unusual. Maybe one of the bearings seized up and it got so hot that the grease burst into flames. When you remove the alternator see if it turns freely. I dont know the HT4100, so I don't know if this is a serpentine belt with a tensioner or if the alternator itself is tightened, which in 1982 is probably the case. Use a prybar and snug up the belt till you can get a 1/2" of deflection when you push down on the belt on a long side. Let us know how this works out and good luck with the car @Mikemt68 Quote Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikemt68 Posted September 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2020 @BodybyFisher got the new alternator, pulled the old one out and there was something rattling around int it. Was able to get some of it out it was very brittle plastic. also there was a bracket that is used to tension the belt for the alternator that was turned and wasn't putting tension on the belt. I got everything back together and it is running great, checked the battery and alternator volts with my dvom and it is charging at 14.6. so I think I got her going. thanks for your replies @BodybyFisher if you see anybody having a similar problem send them my way. and I can add pictures of the tensioner. BodybyFisher and cdgrinci 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BodybyFisher Posted September 6, 2020 Report Share Posted September 6, 2020 @Mikemt68 Let us know how we can help. Glad you got it running good. You are lucky she stayed together for your 1,100 mile trip... Mike Quote Pre-1995 - DTC codes OBD1 >> 1996 and newer - DTC codes OBD2 >> https://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/gm/obd_codes.htm How to check for codes Caddyinfo How To Technical Archive >> http://www.caddyinfo.com/wordpress/cadillac-how-to-faq/ Cadillac History & Specifications Year by Year http://www.motorera.com/cadillac/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted September 25, 2020 Report Share Posted September 25, 2020 Sometimes acid bubbling or leaking out of the top of the battery is a sign of the alternator overcharging. That may have been what caused the alternator to burn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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