I just finished putting my b-series back together and into my civic a few days ago. Last night I took it out for the second time since the swap, just up the street to the gas station. on the way back, car shut off and wouldn't start up again.

I had had a CEL 17 (VSS) and my speedo didn't work but i didn't think that was anything to worry about. turns out, a wire going to the alternator plug had split and shorted out on the alternator, blowing a fuse.

so i thought i found the problem, replaced the fuse, connected the wire again, put tape over it. tried to start again and nothing happened when i put the keys in. so i go get my beater to jump start it. the dash lights came on when i turned the key, it cranked a little and then died again. i've tried jumping it 3 more times since then but it's completely dead. all the fuses are fine.

also when connecting the jumper cables, i couldn't leave them on the cars for more than a minute before they started smoking and glowing red hot. they're really old cables so i don't know if that's the cause or if something else is happening.

anyways, i'm thinking it's a dead battery, beyond the point of jump starting. the car had been sitting for a year before i just recently got it running again. i think i used the last little bit of battery on that first jump start, and it wasn't even enough to fire the car up, just crank a few times.

what do you guys think? is it my battery? did i fry my alternator when i shorted it out? are the really old, smoking jumper cables too weak to start it? is it something else i'm missing completely? i can't push start because my neighborhood is really flat.

 

sounds like the battery, bring it over to kragen they can check it for you

 

took the battery in, it was good. needed to be charged though.

found the problem. when i touched the cable to the negative battery terminal, something started smoking below the intake. turns out my clutch hard line was touching the side engine mount and grounding it out. the line was pretty charred, but no leaks i don't think. had to bleed the clutch, move the line out of the way, tape it and the car started up fine.

hopefully this will help someone else troubleshoot. CHECK IF ANYTHING IS GROUNDING.