Listers -
I managed to make it home alright without my alternator, and I had only a
couple of scares. First off I thought that by unplugging the connector
that supplied the field coil and the sense wires that the alternator
wouldn't charge. WRONG. . .Normally this would work, but apparently there
was enough residual magnetism in the coil to continue charging! As I
pulled out of the lot and got a little ways down the street, again the amp
meter pegged at over 30 amps. I didn't get probably a 1/4 mile before I
had a spot to pull over, but that was too late. Acid bubbling out all over
(thankfully I have one of those plastic battery boxes). Some acid did get
sprinkled on the engine, hood, etc so when I got home I neutralized it with
baking soda, and plenty of water. Not much else I could do at that point.
Since everything got soaked, I gave the engine compartment and hood a good
cleaning and rinsing which it needed anyway.
Back on the side of the road, battery bubbling over. I disconnected the
main battery line to the alternator, and continued on driving, drawing
about ten amps now at cruising. Not too bad, that is until I got near the
end of the trip. While on Mast blvd., a 5 mile section of residential (35
mph HA!) street that has a stoplight (red for twenty minutes, green for
five seconds naturally) every three feet. And of course, being in. . .
well . . .where I live, It was quite warm at three in the afternoon and the
electric fans that I sort of forgot about kicked in when engine temp rose
in the stop and stop traffic. Instant 30 amp draw! Thankfully, during
these times the voltage didn't drop to the point of causing the fuel
injection computer to shut down so I did manage to make it home. Hopefully
the battery isn't ruined by all the abuse as its is fairly new. While the
plates weren't dry the level was down to the top of the plates from all
that acid bubbling out. I added water, but wondered about the wisdom of
that, as it would seem to just reduce the acid content since the *water*
didn't evaporate out. Oh well. . . too late now, heck now is as good a
time as any to replace the muffler with the new Borla and it's new 2-1/8
inch system pipes plus replace that intermittent starter, and of course the
alternator (as If I didn't already have enough to do this weekend)!!! Work
sure gets in the way of everything I *NEED* to do!! Boy, I sure need to
win the lottery, although I suppose buying a ticket would help :-)
At least the GT will get a workout next week
Barry Schwartz (San Diego) bschwart@pacbell.net
72 PI, V6 Spitfire (daily driver)
70 GT6+ (when I don't drive the Spit)
70 Spitfire (long term project)
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