So I installed the new alternator (1-wire 200amp powermaster) and the first fire up test. Wife starts to crank it, and it doesn't start (common for it when it's been cold for a while). She turns key back to try again. Starter motor is still going. Wife pulls the key out and panic sets in--her eyes get big.
I laugh, unscrew the + battery cable, and it turns off.
Take 2. We try it again, engine cranks this time. Now car is running, she turns key off and pulls it out, but engine is still running.
Wash, rinse, repeat and this time it turns off! Many more starts and turns off and it seems to be working properly now.
My wiring that matters is:
alternator_output -> battery_pos -> starter, starter relay
and
battery_neg -> chassis, engine_block
So I'm trying to understand what happened and if it's really over or not...
I have read that 1-wire alternators are "pre-spun" so that the field coils are pre-charged or whatever... Was the alternator supplying electricity to the starter motor initially until this residual charge depleted or something?
My gut says something like that is going on, though my brain is telling me that turning the key back should have disconnected the starter motor circuit and killed it.
Thoughts?
JF