Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

The battery on my Clipper went dead. Probably from sitting to long. I hooked up the charger and because I am impatient, I set it to engine boost. I got in the car and turned the starter. There was a huge arc and then nada. I inspected the battery and found the positive cable from the charger got welded to the battery post. I tried charging the battery on slow charge but the battery evidently got cooked. I have an alternator on the car and am thinking it may have fried also. Any thoughts?

I'd start by buying and installing a new battery and you can then judge if the alternator has been damaged.

I was thinking I had a short somewhere that didn't show up til I turned the starter. Starter motor or something associated with it. I bought a new battery yesterday and will put it in this weekend. Hope I don't short that one out also.

It kind of sounds like the charger polarity may have been incorrect to the battery. If so I would be surprised if the diodes in the alternator survived.

Put the new battery in today. Everything seems ok. Alternator is working. I don't get it!