Charge and ABS Light on after hitting a big pothole?!

[mikec]

So I drop a friend off, and go to turn around to head home. Run over a couple of very large bumps (the city is fixing the road), and suddenly I've got the charge light and ABS light staring me in the face. I make it home okay, but the dash lights are definitely dimmer.

The facts: Battery is showing just above 12V.
The alternator (according to my Haynes), is getting all the right voltages when its supposed to.
The car's run fine since yesterday when I changed the plugs, unfortunately, while I was doing that, I touched the positive battery terminal with my socket wrench while I was pulling one of the plugs.

I'm fairly sure I toasted the alternator (glad I pulled the alternator off my old Legacy), but is it just coincidence that it didn't show up until I hit the bump? Also, why is the ABS light on? And finally, is the Haynes manual correct about the tension on the belt (1/4 inch deflection roughly)?

Man, this has been an expensive 2 days... Plug wires yesterday (yay NGK from the dealer! ), and a new coolant tank today (the repairs the previous owner tried to make finally gave up). And now this... I'm really glad I was out just driving before this latest problem came up, or I'd be really ticked off.

[MCO-Ryan]

When my alternator went in my 92 LS, the charge light never came on, but I had the ABS light come on. I think if the voltage is too low you get a fault in the ABS system. Of course, the little tongue of flame coming out the bottom of the alternator told me what the real problem was, it sure wasn't the ABS!

[mikec]

When my alternator went in my 92 LS, the charge light never came on, but I had the ABS light come on. I think if the voltage is too low you get a fault in the ABS system. Of course, the little tongue of flame coming out the bottom of the alternator told me what the real problem was, it sure wasn't the ABS!

Man, why can't I ever have the cool things happen to my car? Flames would rock!!

On my wagon, the alternator was definitely dying, but I didn't get the charge light either... Ah well, I'll throw the other one in tomorrow morning and let you guys (and gals) know what happens.

Anybody know anyone in the Toronto area that can fix alternators for cheap? (If its even worth it, couldn't hurt to have a spare lying around for the next time I short the battery to the block )

[vrg3]

Ryan, you're right that a low system voltage can set off the ABS light. The ABS computer is one of the first parts of the car to die when there isn't enough voltage.

mikec, it does seem like your battery may not be charging. If it happened when you hit a pothole it may be something loose. Have you checked to make sure the big alternator wire is securely attached with the 10mm nut? There isn't any rust or anything around the alternator frame and/or mount, is there?

[mikec]

Tried playing with the wiring again this morning, when I could actually see everything (I really need a garage), and still no go. So I swapped the alternator. Success! No idiot lights when I start the car whatsoever.

So the moral of this, for anyone that wants the really quick version: Don't short the battery through a spark plug while you're trying to change them.

I'm also going to go see if I can find a rubber cover for the positive terminal, because if I know myself, I'll find another way to do something similar.