Nissan Repair: A question about your 96 Sentra, jumper wire, aftermarket stereo

Question
Thank you for the response.  Right now, I am just now figuring out there is a fusible link on the positive terminal of the battery.  I am having real trouble finding it.  I know it's there since the Factory Service Manual says it's there.  But when I look on the battery terminal, there is a red connector with a small yellow jumper wire.  That's it.  Nothing is there that looks like a fuse.  Can you explain to me further where exactly this fuse is on the positive terminal?

When I said blow up, I meant it was putting out a charge when it left the parts store.  And when I put it in the car and start it up, it does not put out a charge.  It doesn't smoke or anything.  It simply doesn't put out any kind of charge.

And the last alternator could very well have been bad, but when I put it in the car, it didn't work. So I got it tested at the store, it was definitly bad when I returned it.  So I got a new one and tested it before leaving the store this time.  It was fine.  When I put it in the car, it doesn't produce ANY voltage.  I tested it at the battery and right at the terminal on the alternator itself.  I get no voltage from it.  That's why I think it's a blown alternator.  I sure hope my car didn't blow it up somehow, which makes no sense to me since how can a battery, which is low on voltage (9 or 10volts) blow up an alternator in less than 1 second?

I do not have an aftermarket stereo.  Everything on the car is stock.  Tomorrow, when it's daylight again, I will check all the grounds for corrosion.  I think I did see some corrosion coming from the red connector on the positive terminal on the battery.

Thanks for the help!

Aaron

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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
My name is Aaron I have a 95 Sentra that has a wierd problem.  As soon as I put in a new alternator, it blows up just as soon as I start the car!  The headlights work, but NOTHING else does.  I noticed you had a very similar problem, but a fuse blew instead.

Did you ever fix the problem?  If so, what was it?

Here is the post I read just so you can refresh your memory:

Expert: Von Sudderth
Date: 3/22/2006
Subject: 96 sentra main battery fuse keeps blowing

Question
Why does the 75 amp bat. fuse keep blowing after i replaced the alternator.The headlights work but nothing else does.Please help me.


Thank you for ANY help!

Aaron
-----Answer-----
Aaron,

The alternator is internally regulated and will not blow up if a load it implied that it cannot power.  Now, if the wiring is incorrect it can run full output unitl it burns itself up.  So, check the wiring and make sure it is not pinched behind the unit and that it is connected properly.  

If nothing but the headlights are working there is a wiring problem.  If you havea fully charged battery the car should start and everything should work.  This is true even with a alternator that is defective.  There are fuse links at the positive cable at the battery.  Check these to make sure they are good.  

Do you have an aftermarket stereo?  If so make sure the amplifier is grounded with a good cable that is connected to a clean metal surface to ensure that the unit does not backfeed.  If it does it can kill electrical components on the vehicle.

Please define blow up when you are talking about the alternator.  I assume you mean that it smokes after a minute of the vehicle starting?  Again, check the wiring and grounds and make sure no wire is grounding.  Remember that the alternator is internally regulated and the one wire on the alternator goes directly to the battery.  Email me back if you need more...

Answer
Aaron,

Fuse links on the terminal are similar to fuses.  But, they are designed to burn in half when overloaded.  If you lightly pull on the small wire you should be able to tell if it is burnt in two.  The outer covering of plastic will be elastic and the inner wire will be cooked in two.  There is a charge circuit that is protected by a fuse and that tells the alternator to start working when the car is running so check that too.  The one wire from the alternator that connects to the battery is always on.  It is the other wire that activates it.  So, since you said you checked for output at the alternator itself and it is providing nothing more than the battery voltage I would think the wire feeding from the ignition circiut is blown.  Be sure to check the fuses and let me know what you find.  Sounds like the alternator is fine and it is just not being turned on by the car once it is started.