i just replaced my alternator, turn the car over, and see a small plume of smoke rising from about the center of my engine bay! i was by myself, so i couldnt get a good look at it, but i didnt see any burnt wires or anything... any ideas?

 

Check the belt tension and the alt pully bearing. Is this a new or used alt? If you transfered the pulley, make sure the the pulley nut is tight. I forgot to tighten it once, burnt up 2 belts, shaking my head wondering why. The outer pulley half burnt into the nut so bad it wore half of the nut down and welded it to the shaft. Needless to say that alt was done.

 

new alt. new belt. its smoking from closer to the firewall side of the engine...maybe the starter wire?

 

Check the battery cables and their contacts.