Well, driving along last night in the Bird (87 TPI 305), down shift for a light, and everything electrical goes haywire. Voltmeter is flapping around, lights are flashing, SES light is on, engine is misfiring...

Not good. I kill the engine, and the thing goes TOTALLY dead. No power. Nothing.

I get a ride home, and I'm going back this morning to see if I can discover what is wrong... I think I shorted something out... probably got pinched or caught when I replaced the radiator, and broke now.

What else would have gone when this happened? Did I fry my ECM or the alternator? The battery cables, etc were extremely hot to the touch last night...

This is really not good...

 

Downshifting (engine braking) torques the engine in the opposite direction from the normal acceleration torque. This may have stretched the wiring harness and ground straps in a direction that it normally doesn't experience. I'd take a close look at the grounds and connections at the starter/alternator, including the fusible links.

 

I agree with Vader, something pulled out of your wiring harness. Look at the connections on your distributor and ignition coil for sure.

 

AH HA! The bolt holding the positive battery cable down along the front support came loose and broke free, and the cable worked its way up to one of the pullies. Pully+cable == short. $3 in tape got it patched up and temporary secured, and we got it running,no prob. Then the alternator belt decided that it had had enough and broke... (1 min after we got it running). Battery ran out of juice, car dies again, and now it's parked in front of a **** shop.. ...

I'll go back tonight with a new belt, but it looks like I'm going to have to pull the AIR pump to get belt bits out of the filter fan...

Soon, all of this will be replaced, and no more problems will happen...

There is no problem running it 15 miles with the AIR pump not hooked up, right?

 

after emissions, i just get rid of my air pump belt, screw the environment, i want those 3 ponies! And it doesnt harm anything except the environment (atleast in carbed cars)

and where in colorado are you? Is your car by one of the hundreds of **** shops on federal blvd?

 

Great... I don't have the time to replace that yet...

It's at the shop on Highway 287, (Main St) in Longmont (Federal in most places), right near 17th St (I made it a block)...

You'll know it if you see it. Windows are down, fading blue, with a black hood.

I'm on my way now to replace the belt...

 

Just be aware when you return that those spots on the hood may NOT be bird droppings...

 

 

ewwwwwwwwww... I just scrubbed those... ewwww...

 

Sick, man... SICK!!! (But, SO true!!!!) :lala:

 

It's official, Vader has joined the ranks of the twisted and sick.

 

What do you mean "Joined the ranks"??!?! Didn't right the book???!!! :rockon: