Alternator+smoke=no bueno

[Dead Reckoning]

Hey guys. Started up my runner the other night and I heard a whine from the engine bay. Made it from startup, regardless of if the truck was in gear. On the drive home all of a sudden the dash warning lights (everything, check engine, oil, abs, battery etc) came on for about 1 second and the radio reset itself, but nothing else happened. Fast forward two days, I pull into my driveway, pop the hood to try and isolate the sound and see smoke coming from around the alternator. Shut the truck off and continue to see smoke billowing out from alternator area. After this the truck is totally dead, light doesn't even come on when I open the door.

So I threw in a new alternator and jumped the battery, but it just cranks without firing up, and all the warning lights are lit up on the dash. Gonna get a new battery in the am, does that sound like just a dead battery or something more sinister.....?

Thanks in advance bros

 

[ExCabSwap]

Did you check all your fuses?

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[Dead Reckoning]

Yeah, checked fuses and they all appear to be ok. New battery installed and the truck turns over nice and strong but won't fire up and idle. Correct me if I'm wrong but with a new battery shouldn't the truck be able to fire up even if the alternator is not working? Just trying to isolate the problem.

 

[riceandpho]

I would check all the plugs at the alternator then follow all the wires and grounds that was touch.

 

[Dead Reckoning]

Ok, the plot thickens. Checked all the relays, fuses and connections that I could find, all seemed fine. Was doing a spark check and the thing fired up on 4 cylinders. Couldn't believe it. Killed it, put the plug and ignition coil back in, and it refused to start.

Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

 

[Ralphman]

Something could be fried, if your bridge rectifier allowed ac current into the dc systems lights start flickering, radios go on and off and its possible to let the smoke out the box on computers