Hello All,

Tonight heading home, I heard something fall of my car "sounded like a bolt". So I pulled over and found out it was the bolt to hold my alternator. So I just think nothing of it and go to start my car, because I need to get home to fix it. Turn the key over and I get repetitive clicks but its not even turning over.

So I try after letting it sit for a while then I smell something funny. Go to check my battery in the trunk and find liquid coming out the negative terminal of my sealed Optima battery.

So now after popping the clutch to get home it still won't start. Replaced the bolt, and nothing, battery still has the fluid on the terminal, and now the starter will not even click. I plan to get another battery on Monday, (should be free I just got the Optima like 4 months ago), but does anyone know why my bolt coming out on the alternator could cause this, if so?

Thanks and sorry for the bad sentence structure.

CLiffs:
Heard something come off car
Found it to be my alternator bolt "bottom"
Starter clicks but wont turn over
See fluid on my negative terminal on battery
Got it home and now starter wont even click

 

Changed batteries with two other working ones, and no luck, also tried waking starter with an extension via force of a hammer LOL

 

 

???electrical Gurus???

 

Your most likely grounded the battery positive out when the alternator bolt fell off and thus fried the starter and possibly other electrical stuff. Check your fuses

 

how would it ground out the postive? please explain, also battery is relocated to the trunk. Also would this mean my starter is done for, or just the fuse?

 

Had the starter tested @ Autozone and turned out good. Problem still unidentified...

 

Checked all fuses, and they are good. Also used my multimeter on everything found out that the ignition wire going to the starter is only 3.0-3.5 volts @ the starter...should be 12 correct>?