need some help, bad ground?

[Unearth078]

The car wont start. Basically for a split second power will make it to the starter but not enough to actually turn the car over. figured it was my starter so i swapped it. still same effect with the "good" starter. i noticed after that split second, which is why i believe it is a bad ground, the oil engine level sensor harness started to smoke. oddly enough the oil level light went on a few days before this occurred. looks as if it is the ground in that harness had a bit flowing through it. looks as if oil pan to chassis ground is nice and secure, what other grounds should i check? any ideas?

any help would be much appreciated

[kronus]

Unplug your alternator charge lead, jump the battery, and try to start.

Something similar has happened to me, where the alternator was shorting through when trying to start.

[Unearth078]

wow, kronus, started right up, New alternator fixed it huh?

[kronus]

Err... we fixed it by whacking the old alternator with a wrench a couple times.

You need to rebuild the alt. Brushes, diode. There might be a DIY somewhere here, it's easy enough to do yourself.

[kronus]

Here is my thread where we dealt with the problem.

[Unearth078]

thanks a ton

i really appreciate it =) sorry you had a similar problem tho, i thought id never get this one squared away

[Unearth078]

dfgd

mm i may have spoke too soon put a new alternator in and seems to be the same issue. hoping its just a drained battery but my DMM died so ill be replacing the battery then checking it

[Unearth078]

send me a 9v battery?