QuestionI have 2 questions .
First, I bought my 1972 MG midget that had been stored for 23 years in dry storage area and was running when parked.
I mistakenly hooked up the battery backwards because it had a red negative cable and a black positive cable. When I did I noticed smoke coming from the alternator. I quickly disconnected the battery and disconnected the alternator. I reversed the battery connection to the correct polarity. My question is do you think I only screwed up my alternator or did I screw up the whole electrical system ,ignition module, distributor, so on and so on???
My other question is what is a low cost fuel pump that I could install since mine is rotten from stale 23 year old gas?
Thanks for any help
AnswerHi Doug,
The only way you will know if you did any damage at all is to start it up and test the alternator. One test you can run before you get it running is to disconnect the large brown wire off of the alternator and connect the battery up correctly and take the brown wire and scratch it on the post that it is suppose to connect to and if it sparks the alternator is bad and don't connect it, but if there is no spark at all then you can connect it up and put a volt meter across the battery when you start it up you should see from 13.8 to 14 volts at 2000 RPM at the battery.
I have seen people accidently connect up a battery backwards and not damage anything and others damaged alternator and ignition. Most electronic ignition systems were poor anyway so it is unreliable even if it does work.
As for a cheep fuel pump. I would ask you a question. If I drive my car out late at night down deserted roads with my wife or girl friend, where can I get the cheapest fuel pump that I can put on my car? Does that answer your question?
I try to find the best pump I can find and buy two and put one in the trunk as a spare. I have a XJ-6 Jaguar and carry a spare fuel pump in the trunk. How can I advise you to do any different?
Howard
