1995 Grand Am GT-3.1 Ltr. V-6: I am needing a wiring diagram for the alternator charging circuit. I have a short somewhere and before I found a burnt wire coming from the alternator. But before getting too deep I want to be sure of exactly where and which wires I think I should be looking at. Alternator checked good to specs. BUT the red battery wire coming out of the back of the alternator is TOOO hot to touch. Could this be a faulty ground?

You really need a wiring diagram for your car before you can properly check the wiring.

There are a number of possibilities and not all of them are a short circuit.
Your car might have a separate voltage regulator and could have originally been fitted with with various charging systems depending on trim level and possible supply problems.

One further possibility is as the supply of alternators with an integrated voltage regulator increased and the price reduced it wasn't unusual for subsequent alternator changes to result in the minor modifications to the wiring and an integrated unit fitted.

You need to know these things...

make sure you didn't leave off a wire

It will help if you can identify the 40 Amp fuse that is being toasted when the key is turned.

I looked briefly at a fusebox diagram and found 3 circuits protected by a 40 Amp fuse. The Lamp circuit protects several circuits which have smaller rated fuses on each separate wire. The 40 Amp protection seems to be a safeguard if all the smaller circuits are active in total. Turning off the automatic headlights, should reduce power drain.

The next circuit is the Rear window defroster. Can easily pull 40 Amps, but once the 40 Amp fuse breaks, it should have no effect on the engine.

The last circuit, on the cars with Trailer Tow or Police package has a
40 Amp fuse on the Battery charge Relay. This is a remote possibility. But the engine should be able to run without an Alternator for several minutes using Battery power.

Have them check the fuel pressure. The Inertia switch could have tripped while the car was being repaired. It does not explain the wiring short, but can explain the no start condition.

Again, if the same 40 Amp circuit is overloading, identify the circuit with the fuse box diagram.

if alternator tested fine the wire on the back of the alternator is not getting a circuit back to the battery to charge it.
You can run a wire from the back of the alternator to the battery positive post and it will charge the battery.
I have done that several times on dodges because of ammeter gauge in dash being burnt out.
With the ammeter gauge burnt out it breaks the circuit from the alternator to the battery and the battery does not get charged.

Looking on your engine:
(Coil packs)
5-2 3-6 4-1
(Cylinders)
1 3 5
2 4 6
Your firing order (although irrelevant):
1-2-3-4-5-6

SONDS LIKE YOR ALTERNATER IS OVER CHARGING REPLACE THE INTERNAL REG

Check several documents about this:

1. 1998 | JEEP | GRAND CHEROKEE Go to
- User: greatfalls / Pass: publiclibrary
- Select Auto Repair Reference Center>> 1998>> Jeep>> Grand Cherokee>> Model
- Repair Procedures
- Chassis Electrical>> Circuit Protection

2. Engine Fuses

3. ZJ-Secc-8W-Wiring-Diagrams

Good luck!!!

http://wareznuke.com/apps/3872/all-1979-2007-vehicle-wiring-diagrams-v42-rapidshare-warez

solid black wires on automobiles are ground wires I would suggest attaching to somewhere with a good ground...be sure it doesnt have any color stripe on it...i'm assuming you still have one side of the wire leading somewhere

Possibly a fusible link somewhere in the circuit has burned through and disconnected the circuit.A wiring diagram would be needed to look for the location of any fusible links Ohms check the wires involved in the alternator charging circuit to verify continuity.