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    #1

    3g Warning

    I did not see this addressed anywhere so I thought I would post this warning .

    If you are using a 3G alternator with the 90 degree charging post adapter ... do a periodic check on the connector , I was sitting in my car last night idling with the A/C on and I smelled something strange..... I popped the hood and the adapter thing was actually on fire ..( my stereo has a volt gauge and it was charging in range while this was happening )

    I shut the car off and put the fire out and I was able to make a "redneck" repair enough to get me home and this morning I jumped in my truck and went to the JY and got a new alternator without the 90 degree thing . Thank goodness it happened while I was sitting still and not while I was driving or it could have been catastrophic.

    Here are some pics of the adapter I am referring to, its the maroon thing that the main charge cable is bolted to.
    Attached Files
    sigpic

    1988 Signature Series Town Car
    Tags: what's cooking?
    #2
    oh man!
    I just have a stud with a nut on it; the charging cable has a ring terminal and goes on to it...
    it's unclear from the photos: this is a post that goes up from that stud, and above the alternator body, so you can get to it more easily?

    what/how did a chunk of insulated metal catch fire? Was it too thin gauge for the amperage, and overheated/melted/burnt the insulation? Or did it get loose, resulting in some arcing? Or did it short on something?

    Comment

      #3
      That's wild. Still not sure how exactly it happened though, even after looking at the pictures. I'm slow.

      Mine only has a charge stud with a ring terminal. I've got a 4awg cable with the end that I've bent up perfectly so it clears everything that I use just for that.
      sigpic


      - 1990 Ford LTD Crown Victoria P72 - the street boat - 5.0 liter EFI - Ported HO intake/TB, 90 TC shroud/overflow, Aero airbox/zip tube, Cobra camshaft, 19lb injectors, dual exhaust w/ Magnaflows, Cat/Smog & AC delete, 3G alternator, MOOG chassis parts & KYB cop shocks, 215/70r/15s on 95-97 Merc rims

      - 2007 Ford Escape XLT - soccer mom lifted station wagon - 3.0 Duratec, auto, rear converter delete w/ Magnaflow dual exhaust

      - 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis Ultimate Edition - Daily driver - 4.6 2 valve Mod motor, 4R75E, 2.73s. Bone stock

      Comment

        #4
        That piece bolts to the charging stud and just repositions the charge cable to the "top" instead of the "back"

        Apparently mine either got dirty or loose ......or both..... when it had a higher load put on it it got hot , started to melt and the red plastic actually caught fire .

        I wish I had a picture of what the adapter looks like when its not bolted on , it would help to explain

        I now no longer have that set up
        Last edited by hypostang; 06-11-2012, 03:01 PM.
        sigpic

        1988 Signature Series Town Car

        Comment

          #5
          I get ya!
          sigpic


          - 1990 Ford LTD Crown Victoria P72 - the street boat - 5.0 liter EFI - Ported HO intake/TB, 90 TC shroud/overflow, Aero airbox/zip tube, Cobra camshaft, 19lb injectors, dual exhaust w/ Magnaflows, Cat/Smog & AC delete, 3G alternator, MOOG chassis parts & KYB cop shocks, 215/70r/15s on 95-97 Merc rims

          - 2007 Ford Escape XLT - soccer mom lifted station wagon - 3.0 Duratec, auto, rear converter delete w/ Magnaflow dual exhaust

          - 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis Ultimate Edition - Daily driver - 4.6 2 valve Mod motor, 4R75E, 2.73s. Bone stock

          Comment

            #6
            Here are some pics that may help explain what happened
            Attached Files
            sigpic

            1988 Signature Series Town Car

            Comment

              #7
              GREAT "heads up"! You may have saved someone a lot of grief!! Bobby


              "Hope and dignity are two things NO ONE can take away from you - you have to relinquish them on your own" Miamibob

              "NEVER trade your passion for glory"!! Sal "the Bard" (Dear Old Dad!)

              "Cars are for driving - PERIOD! I DON'T TEXT, TWEET OR TWERK!!!!"

              Comment

                #8
                I actually had that happen to mine, though I don't have the post. The nut had come loose and it charred just like you see. It didn't kill the alternator, and I was able to just clean it up and put it back together with no problems.
                86 Lincoln Town Car (Galactica).
                5.0 HO, CompCams XE258,Scorpion 1.72 roller rockers, 3.55 K code rear, tow package, BHPerformance ported E7 heads, Tmoss Explorer intake, 65mm throttle body, Hedman 1 5/8" headers, 2.5" dual exhaust, ASP underdrive pulley

                91 Lincoln Mark VII LSC grandpa spec white and cranberry

                1984 Lincoln Continental TurboDiesel - rolls coal

                Originally posted by phayzer5
                I drive a Lincoln. I can't be bothered to shift like the peasants and rabble rousers

                Comment

                  #9
                  Originally posted by gadget73 View Post
                  I actually had that happen to mine, though I don't have the post. The nut had come loose and it charred just like you see. It didn't kill the alternator, and I was able to just clean it up and put it back together with no problems.
                  It didn't kill my alternator either , but when I went to disassemble the mess to clean it up I broke off about 1/4 inch of he charging stud


                  The whole situation did scare me though.
                  sigpic

                  1988 Signature Series Town Car

                  Comment

                    #10
                    I have that post on my Mark. I should check that.

                    Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. -- Albert Einstein
                    rides: 93 Crown Vic LX (The Red Velvet Cake), 2000 Crown Vic base model (Sandy), 2003 Expedition (the vacation beast)

                    Originally posted by gadget73
                    ... and it should all work like magic and unicorns and stuff.

                    Originally posted by dmccaig
                    Overhead, some poor bastards are flying in airplanes.

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Ive seen them go bad on 4.6's that use that post... once they get corroded or loose that extra resistance makes heat!
                      A guy rolled in one day in a towncar with his so bad it wouldn't charge... lucky for him I had a few of those posts in my toolbox...!
                      Pete ::::>>> resident LED addict and CFI defector LED bulb replacements
                      'LTD HPP' 85 Vic (my rusty baby) '06 Honda Reflex 250cc 'Baileys' 91 Vic (faded cream puff) ClifFord 'ODB' 88 P72 (SOLD) '77 LTDII (RIP)
                      sigpic
                      85HPP's most noteworthy mods: CFI to SEFI conversion w/HO upperstuff headers & flowmasters P71 airbox Towncar seats LED dash light-show center console w/5 gauge package LED 3rd brake light 3G alternator mini starter washer/coolant bottle upgrade Towncar power trunk pull underhood fuse/relay box 16" HPP wheels - police swaybars w/poly rubbers - budget Alpine driven 10 speaker stereo

                      Comment

                        #12
                        So even the 3g. Can catch fire lol

                        1989 mercury grand marquis gs / 2014 ford focus s daily driver
                        302 lopo with ho upper/ aod with trans go shift kit
                        k code 3:55 posi rear/big brake swap tow package car

                        Comment

                          #13
                          I pulled one of those posts to install a year ago. Good thing I never got around too it.
                          ~David~

                          My 1987 Crown Victoria Coupe: The Brown Blob
                          My 2004 Mercedes Benz E320:The Benz

                          Originally posted by ootdega
                          My life is a long series of "nevermind" and "I guess not."

                          Originally posted by DerekTheGreat
                          But, that's just coming from me, this site's biggest pessimist. Best of luck

                          Originally posted by gadget73
                          my car starts and it has AC. Yours doesn't start and it has no AC. Seems obvious to me.



                          ​

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Your stereo has a built in volt gauge? That's pretty cool.

                            Pete
                            Originally posted by gadget73
                            For other types of inquiry, more information is required. Please press 4 to speak to a representative who can help you with your question. This call may be monitored for quality assurance purposes.


                            2003 Grand Marquis Ultimate, the "Stealth Bomber": http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthre...-Grand-Marquis
                            1991 S-10, 'Bulldog', 2.5l 5 speed: http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthre...375#post698375
                            1985 Town Car, 'Faded Glory', gone but not forgotten. 84/87/91/97 MGMs too.

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Originally posted by Piece-it pete View Post
                              Your stereo has a built in volt gauge? That's pretty cool.

                              Pete
                              It sure does
                              Attached Files
                              sigpic

                              1988 Signature Series Town Car

                              Comment

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