Okay so as the title says I have a 1996 chevy blazer. The thing has always been a beast and never gave me any issues over the typical maintence oriented stuff. However, today my battery died on the way to Advanced Auto to have my alternator tested out. Ended up buying a new battery and an alternator. Battery was put in at advanced auto and I quickly drove it home on battery power only. (~ 2 miles) Pulled into the garage, popped the hood and put the new alternator on like I have done in the past once. However, this time around after the new alternator was put on I couldn't get my blazer to turn over. The dash lights up and the voltage meter reads ~ 14V when you turn the key, but the only sound you hear is the relays clicking once. I have no idea what could have caused this new issue as I did not disconnect anything except for the battery, belt, and old alternator while doing this today. I was careful to not bump into anything else either and doubled checked all my connections. I'm at a lost what could have happened during that 15 minutes for my blazer to stop working. Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated since this is my only form of transportation at the moment.

 

I guess I wasn't careful enough. After further inspection of the engine, I took the new alternator out again to have another look around where it sits. Found a black wire leading to the solenoid had been severed or shorted and melted. I think the first option is more plausible since I had to use a mallet and bar to get the old alternator loose. Once loose I had to wiggle it a bit back and force to get it completely free. I'm guessing during that wiggle back and forth the wire was pinched and severed. Back to the auto store I go... *sigh* on foot.

 

An old timer once told me, what makes you a good technician, is not if you can fix cars, but if you can fix your own mess ups, lolol. Good job with the find.