While changing the alternator, my son shorted out the large red alternator wire to ground. He said he saw smoke coming from the between the radiator and engine... We carefully connected everything and it runs fine, but we get the red battery light symbol come on and go out intermittently. Before dissecting the harness, was hoping someone had some suggestions...

 

Hard to find electrical gremlins, maybe check things around that area with multimeter?

 

I am not sure what controls that battery indicator. I wonder if it is a component in the alternator.

Future reference, when changing an alternator (or messing with it such as moving it out of the way), that is a device when you should always disconnect the battery prior to working with.

 

Battery light = alt not charging
Alt is probably toast.
However, you also now need to check the cable from alt to fuse box, because it could have been damaged.

 

It was the heavier, red wire that was shorted- does that wire run to the starter post or possibly, battery? I don't think the other wires were involved. Also, if the alternator was not charging, shouldn't the indicator light stay lit? It comes on for only seconds and turns off... Any comments appreciated.

 

Found the problem... The wire goes from alternator to the starter. It was melted in two right at the eyelet that connects to the starter.