While driving my 1996 Lincoln Town Car on the highway it jerked shut down and it coasted to a stop?

While driving my 1996 Lincoln Town Car on the highway, I experienced a jerk, the car shut down, and it coasted to a stop. I checked the battery and the battery was dead. I replaced the battery and then tried to start the vehicle and the battery cables started to smoke. Everything comes on the vehicle, it just will not start.|||there could be a direct short like bulldog says look for charred wires at the alt and starter could be a short in the ignition switch too, if the battery cables heated up while trying to crank the car it would indicate a huge amperage draw.





try turning the key to the on position but do not crank it over and feel the battery cables for heating.


does it turn over?





be sure to watch out for car fires, it may be good to disconnect the negative cable until you get this figured out.|||There is a big problem with what is called "Alternator Secrete" (Pronounced C-kREET). It can cause your Main line wires to your alternator to over head. It will eventually over head the alternator wires then the Battery port cables. They will smoke and eventually cause an engine fire. Get checked IMMEDIATELY!!! Good Luck!





Sgt. M.B. Gordon - U.S.M.C|||Check your alternator and starter.