I have a whole new set of problems.

[Jacob_M]

This is a tangent to the other post I have.

Heres the old stuff; while changing my alternator, I accidently arced the battery with a wrench causing it to shoot sparks. I continued to take it off and replaced with a good used alternator unknowingly leaving the battery connected the whole time. Started it and the battery gauge was over 18. Drove it 30 miles or so to see if it was dead and in need of charging, and that didnt do anything. So, disconnected the battery and a couple hours later came out reconnected the battery, started and the battery guage went down a little. I went to start it tuesday and it was dead. So I hooked the charger up and at 5 or so started it and went back to overcharging on the guage. But when I turned on the lights, my guages went wacko (tach down below zero, batt. down, temp up, gas going up, brights stuck on, blinkers stuck on, and no dash lights.)

Heres the new stuff. Had a friend over who has delt with this kind of stuff and knows what he is doing. Test the Voltage regulator by disconnecting it while it was running and listening to the engine. He said that the charging system works fine. But when I hook the battery up the electric fan kicks on and all the wierd stuff above happens when I turn on the lights.

Heres the situation. The charging system works fine according to him. We are going to hook it up to the computer and read codes to try and find the short in the system. He feels it has to do with the cooling system due to the fan kicking on as soon as it gets juice. Anyone have any ideas of where I can start or what I am looking at in time/labor/ or am I almost screwed????

So, I may have a MAJOR situation that is really, really stressing me out because this car has been one giant headache, and as soon as I sell it, I will be able to buy an 1986 SVO. All that seems to be happening is me put more and more money into this thing and more problems coming up. So again, any info (besides new alternator) would be greatly appriciated to end this one big headache on 17 year old.