Last night was a fun one.
Got my suspension done and took the car for a test spin around 9:45pm.
Never test drive at night, though at least walking home is cooler. :)
Remember I was having difficult starting problems? I think I know why
now...weaker and weaker battery. Could just start it while engine cool,
but not hot and eventually gave out alltogether. Here comes the fun.
Driving about a mile from my home and the car suddenly loses power and
within 15 yards, dies. Was able to get into a parking lot, pop the clutch
and get it running (badly) again - the mad dash for home begins. I got
about 1/2 way home and it died again. Could not get it restarted.
Went home and waited for reinforcements. Wife comes and we get it started
)about 2 hours later so the pop the clutch system worked once. She follows
me home and I die in about 100 yards. I work on a sticking carb piston,
jump the car and charge it up a bit and I limp home - almost. Dies about
100 yards from the homestead. Jump and charge once more and I'm in the
garage.
Put the battery charger on it and go to bed. Go out this afternoon and it
starts like a champ. Was running better too, though I only let it run for
about 1 minute knowing it will just drain the battery. Before charging
last night I tested 12 volts across the battery terminals, but charger
still let me know it was very low on charge.
Today - test across terminals engine off - 12 volts. Test across terminals
engine on - 12 volts. I'm supposed to have more like 14-14.5, n'est-ce
pas? Bad alternator or circuit. Checked the belt - not huge free play
there. Pull multi-plug connector off alternator. WHAT A MESS! Corrosion
on wires and connectors - one of the three lines in hardly looks connected
to the connector at all. What do we all bet that this is at least one of
my biggest problems? :)
Ok - I may try to clean this up, but I would just as soon get a new
connector. Is this a crossover part with anything so I could get it
locally? I haven't seen it in Motorhead, Moss or VB catalogs so I wonder
about availablility. Or can I hope it is such a common part that they
expect you'll get it elsewhere? hehehe
Anyway, if anyone has a lead on one of these, please let me know.
Meantime, I think I'll cut my wires off at the connector and see if I can
clean it up and match it around here. I've got to lose the ends of these
wires into the alternator anyway - they are just beyond help. I'd rather
strip some new showing to get a good connection.
Thanks all for past and future encouragement/advice.
Philip
1974 Midget (Arioch, Lord of Chaos)
|