Hi!
Approx. two weeks ago I reported on my "slow" indicators to the list. Many
thanks to the replies of Derek Evans, Atwell Haines, Joe Curry, and
Tom O'Malley. Basically they all suspected bad connections and suggested
to take out the bulbs, check for corrosion, etc.
Well, the reason was actually slightly different: The main mounting bolt
of the alternator had fallen out!!!!
Some days before I reported on the "slow" indicators,
when I left the garage, I heard a metallic clunk as if a spanner had been
dropped onto the concrete floor of the garage. I checked immediatly under
the car and under the bonnet. Could not see anything. Everything was
running fine and I did two short trips with car without problems,
the only thing I noticed was that the indicators were rather slow.
Yesterday I did a check under the bonnet and I noticed
that obviously some water had been splashed about under the bonnet.
When I checked more closely I realized that the main mounting bolt of the
alternator had fallen out!!!!!! It was still in the car, lying on a
part of the frame (after two trips). The alternator was basically
hanging off the adjusting bracket. The adjusting bracket is connected
to the water pump housing and that bolt had started coming loose as well.
(you can imagine the tension of the fan belt ...). As this latter bolt
does not only connect the alternator adjustment bracket to the water
pump housing, but also the water pump housing to the engine it had
developed a small leak somewhere (difficult to tell), therefore the water
being splashed about.
Well, the bolt is back in, I also found the distance tube (also this part
travelled with me for these two short trips without getting lost), and
voila, the indicators are back to normal. No "racehorses", but what I was
used to. I will still follow the suggestions and clean everything, once
I have a bit more time ...
Anyway, should I feel now very guilty or stupid that this happened and
that I did not notice it earlier?
Cheers
Romano
'77 Spit
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Dr. Romano T. Kroemer
Phys. & Theoret. Chem. Lab.
University of Oxford
South Parks Rd. | Tel: ++44-1865-275475
Oxford OX1 3QZ | Fax: ++44-1865-275410
England, U.K. | Email: romano@bellatrix.pcl.ox.ac.uk
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