I have a '70 Caprice 2DR coupe with 350/300hp motor. Wen't out yesterday to go get some lunch, Caprice was completely dead. No lights, no starter click. Went home & got a new Group 24 top[ post battery & put that in. Made sure my positive connections were good. Went to put Negative cable on battery & Red factory 14 gauge wire ( I think ) fried all the way from Battery to back of alternator. Earlier I noticed My headlights flickering & that I may need a new regulator & alternator. I'm thinking a Diode went bad & that's what cooked my red Alternator wire. All other wiring looks okay, I may be able to put a new wire in -- but first I want know what other people think - as I'm just a shade tree mechanic !! LOL!

Any expertise on this ??

Thank You,
Mark.

 

seems to me all the symptoms described are from a voltage drop from the bad wire. the lights will flicker as the battery slowly dies from not being charged due to the resistance across the burned wire. bad diodes should not burn wires as the voltage is still regulated.


Did you test the old battery to see if it actually bad or just discharged?

Replace the wire with a heavy gauge replacement and check the charging system output. An AVR test at a shop will include a diode check. you can check everything yourself but amp output with a dvom.

 

Hey There... Thanks for the response. I took the battery & placed in my '68 Biscayne afterwards & It fired up & I had full power, Lights & all. It could be that red wire may of been bad (I did pull on it & move it around...) I think I can take a hunk of the wire to Auto zone & have them match it, run new battery cables & splice that in. I don't think it melted the other wires. I will test the Alternator & external regulator too... I would like to put new Forward portion wiring harness in - but I don't have the $$$ right now...

Thanks,
Mark.