I bought a new battery and I was trying to hook it up (in the friggin dark) and I crossed the posts and there was a puff of smoke out of the starter solenoid....

I was able to start the truck after correcting the problem, but the radio didn't work nor did the in cab light, the head-lights seemed dim and the battery light was on.

My first guess was that I fried the alternator, so I picked one up from Autozone and replaced it. My battery light is still on and the guage is reading right around the "N" of Normal. I have the battery sitting on the charger right now but I'm thinking that I may have fried it.

Also because of the puff of smoke, should I assume that the starter solenoid may also be causing problems?

 

Check your fuses.

 

Just checked all of the fuses and they are fine. There is a what I think is a fuseable link coming off of the starter solenoid that looks like it might have fried. Is this a difficult fix?

 

Very simple fix. Cut out the old one. Splice in the new one. You can get one from just about any auto parts store. There is also another fusible link that comes off of the starter solenoid. You may want to check that as well

 

Thanks Crowder, I'm admittedly not the most mechanical person. The truck is starting an running, however it is doing so very poorly and if I give it gas it struggles. Is that the link causing it or did I fry something else.

 

I'd start off by pulling codes. There's a sticky in the forums on how to do this with just a paper clip

 

Pulled the codes and I all I got was the pass code.

Also after leaving it hooked up to the charger all night the battery gauge is only reading to "O" of normal.

 

Do you have a multimeter? We really need to find out if the alternator is charging at all. Did you install the new fusible link?

 

Change the link and the solenoid then take the battery in and have it tested at a local parts store. The store should be able to test the alternator for free along with the starter if your worried about that. As for the radio there should be a fuse on the back of it if it is an aftermarket unit.

 

I don't have a multimeter and I haven't changed the link yet. My trusty old Dad is coming over this evening to help out. In the meantime I'm taking the old alternator to have it tested along with the battery.