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Can the battery short the alternator?

Tiny
MOREFOOD
  • MEMBER
  • GMC SAFARI
The vehicle is a 1998 GMC Safari Van. The battery died the other day and the shop told me that they have to replace both the battery & alternator. Reason - A "cheap" battery, past warranty, shorted out the alternator.

I am wondering if this is possible. I've had an alternator go out on me before, but this is the first time the cause was a "bad" battery. Any help on this will be appreciated.
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Saturday, July 8th, 2006 AT 12:19 AM

2 Replies

Tiny
MIKEYBDMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 623 POSTS
I would say "Yes" it is possible. If your battery internally shorts its self out, it would be simular to taking the power from the altenator and touching it directly to ground.
I would say you are lucky it didnt melt the cables connecting the two. Probably blew out the altenator before too much damage was done.
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Sunday, July 9th, 2006 AT 7:30 PM
Tiny
MOREFOOD
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Thanks for your response.
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Tuesday, July 11th, 2006 AT 1:24 AM

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