Found out some fascinating things from a few great mechanics that I want to share.
Whenever you change the alternator, change the regulator too.
When you remove the battery cables wrong, the arc can damage the alternator, so always remove the negative first; the same applies when putting the cables back on, with the positive first and the negative on last. There will be no spark.
The battery is a surge protector. If you must check to see if your alternator is working, you can be ok to quickly remove a cable to see if the engine still runs, but for half a second. There is still no guarantee that it is perfectly safe to do so. It can put out alternating current I hear, and it can fry your various electric devices in the car.
To find out if your catalytic converter is damaged, take a hold of the exhaust pipe and shake fairly vigorously and listen for rattling around. If it is quiet, it is very likely ok.
It isn't ok to direct wire around the sensors of your radiator electric fan, because the engine can actually run too cool and put out more emissions. In California the smog tech can actually fail you by the visual even if you pass the emissions test. (I now have to locate the two switches on mine and replace them. Any help would be appreciated)
voice from the past