Feeling dumb

[Zachary Hoyt]

Went out today to figure out why the 300 wasn't charging after reviewing the helpful advice from Bob M and Janicholson. Looked up under the hood at the alternator and now that it was daylight I could see that the 10 gauge wire had come out of the crimp on connector and was dangling. I guess I didn't squeeze hard enough when putting the connector on the wire back in the summer. Another dumb thing is that I bought a pack of 10 of those little diodes and thought I knew where I had put the other 9 but now I find that they are not there. Oh well, maybe someday I will become enlightened.
Zach
 

[Janicholson]

Good find, sometimes electricity has difficulty with a few inches of air. (unless it is 75000 volta or so. I have a neat tesla coil with a 2" spark gap!!) I have given up on crimped only connectors. I buy naked terminals and solder them then shrink tube the connection. No more fallout. Jim
 

[David G]

I keep buying packs of those diodes, put them somewhere I will remember, then do it all again.

Those 10Ga crimp connectors are about all I can crimp these days. I always give them a good tug after crimping.
 

[armand tatro]

I use a vice-grips for my crimping tool. Works great and the crimps stay tight! Armand
 

[IH fan]

I also gave up on trying to crimp 10 ga. wire in insulated connectors. Time and temperature changes seem to loosen them over time, even if you think you have a good crimp. Soldering is best.
 

[stumper]

Ya them gremlins just don't put it back wear it was,Lol stumper
 

[FBH44]

Squinching them down with anything like Vice-Grips, pliers, needle-nose, etc. will not work. Gotta use real crimper electrical pliers, one side of the tool is U-shaped, other side is poooched out to match. Usually have 3 sizes.
 

[Dude with a 300]

Don't worry, I got used to feeling dumb years ago!

Bruce
 

[TuckerMac]

I put a new fuel pump on a jeep years ago..... It was out of gas
 

[mike1972chev]

Dont feel TOO bad Zach,

You know how many people there are out there who have changed their own oil and forgot to put the drain plug back in??? You see 2 brand new quarts rolling out from under the vehicle while your up top there just pouring away and then its a "mad dash" to make it to the oil pan to try to get it in! lol (BTW,EVERYONE I know has done this one at least once!
 

[Hendrik]

Called our service technician because the central heating wasn't working. It was not plugged in ... dumb.
My next will be fresh oil on the ground
 

[ihredo4]

Where do you find the bare terminal connectors? I can never find them in a store. TIA.
 

[Bouncer]

TSC, Harbor Freight, etc
 

[Al L. in Wisc.]

[quote="I find that they are not there. Oh well, maybe someday I will become enlightened.
Zach[/quote]

Zach; I went looking for my coffee mug and think I found some electrical connections....

hmmm, why won't the tractor start: forgot the rotor; forgot to turn the gas on; forgot to reattach the coil wire...I need enlightenment some days also...oh ya, forgot to put water in the coffee pot
 

[rhtx55]

I usually crimp and solder, use shrink tubing to insulate the connections.
Don't beat yourself up too bad, we've all been there one time or another.
At least it was an "easy" fix.