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Re: While I'm In There... 1990 Coupe quattro Refurb
Okay, fun continues!
Was running some errands and driving nicely, when out of nowhere the idiot lights come up on the dash.
Figured that it'd go away after a restart, but no luck.
Then I noticed that they would disappear with revs over 4,600 rpm, but not with the clutch depressed. Hmm.
Was on my way to the airport and started losing power, with occasional misfires. Battery light comes on in the dash, with the voltage rapidly dropping on the interior gauge.
I figured I'd be okay as long as I took things easy and didn't shut off the ignition... NOPE! Was able to pull the car off the road, in between a merge lane and the right lane, on the Anthony Henday... just before rush hour.
Called Mike (mikekrus) when I found the battery had 10.5v via my multimeter, and he suggested to follow the wiring harness backwards from the alternator.
Found this:
I must have tensioned the belt too much when I adjusted it a few days prior.
Some random guy was nice enough to stop and check on me, even offer a ride to get parts! But I had a friend on the way so I thanked him and he went on with his day.
Southrape had no belt, and the supplier they referred me to was closing in about 15 minutes. Balls!
Went home to grab my old one from the rebuild and drove back to fit... found it was the old PS pump belt. Blast!
Luckily, the local Canadian Tire had one in stock.
Once the replacement was fitted she fired right up with a boost. Checked the Bentley and found my intuition was backwards, proper sequence is:
Good battery positive
Bad battery positive
Good battery negative
Bad battery negative
And reverse order to remove.
Went to get my day underway this morning and wouldn't you know it... the battery light rears her ugly head again and the interior gauge shows rapidly dropping voltage. Luckily I was only three blocks from home so I turned around and barely made it into the driveway. Check for belt... still there, and tension seems fine (2mm deflection, as per Bentley spec).
What gives?
Worn alternator brushes perhaps? Time for a replacement?
Okay, fun continues!
Was running some errands and driving nicely, when out of nowhere the idiot lights come up on the dash.
Figured that it'd go away after a restart, but no luck.
Then I noticed that they would disappear with revs over 4,600 rpm, but not with the clutch depressed. Hmm.
Was on my way to the airport and started losing power, with occasional misfires. Battery light comes on in the dash, with the voltage rapidly dropping on the interior gauge.
I figured I'd be okay as long as I took things easy and didn't shut off the ignition... NOPE! Was able to pull the car off the road, in between a merge lane and the right lane, on the Anthony Henday... just before rush hour.
Called Mike (mikekrus) when I found the battery had 10.5v via my multimeter, and he suggested to follow the wiring harness backwards from the alternator.
Found this:
I must have tensioned the belt too much when I adjusted it a few days prior.
Some random guy was nice enough to stop and check on me, even offer a ride to get parts! But I had a friend on the way so I thanked him and he went on with his day.
Southrape had no belt, and the supplier they referred me to was closing in about 15 minutes. Balls!
Went home to grab my old one from the rebuild and drove back to fit... found it was the old PS pump belt. Blast!
Luckily, the local Canadian Tire had one in stock.
Once the replacement was fitted she fired right up with a boost. Checked the Bentley and found my intuition was backwards, proper sequence is:
Good battery positive
Bad battery positive
Good battery negative
Bad battery negative
And reverse order to remove.
Went to get my day underway this morning and wouldn't you know it... the battery light rears her ugly head again and the interior gauge shows rapidly dropping voltage. Luckily I was only three blocks from home so I turned around and barely made it into the driveway. Check for belt... still there, and tension seems fine (2mm deflection, as per Bentley spec).
What gives?
Worn alternator brushes perhaps? Time for a replacement?
If it's smoken it ain't broken
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