[car geek]
Had a minor emergency in the Datsun on the way to lunch today (What does the Datsun look like? Like this except blue and with crummier paint). I drove down the grocery store to pick up a few things, and on the way down the hill, noticed the ammeter on the dash spiking abnormally whenever I would go over a bump or inadvertently hit a shallow pothole. Thought it was odd, but didn’t think any more of it until the car cut out on me rounding the bend into the shopping center complex… It’s a manual, so I immediately pushed the clutch in, put it in second, and let the clutch out, which started the engine again. The ammeter was completely pegged on +45 amps by this point, and I immediately suspected the alternator, which the faint smoke coming from the vents seemed to confirm. I’ve smelled electrical fires before, and this was one. I pulled into a parking space, stopped the engine, and popped the hood, ready for an emergency in the alternator vicinity, but it looked fine. The battery, however, was a different story. I replaced the battery last week, and the new one was significantly smaller in size than the old one, such that the metal bracket/tie-down didn’t fit over it properly, but I had secured it around so that the battery wouldn’t move around TOO much. Turns out the bracket had contacted the positive terminal of the battery, providing a path to ground, and the full electrical load of the battery was being poured through said bracket and the ground strap that attaches to the negative terminal. Needless to say, the bracket, which was already rusty, was completely burnt in half by the current, and the ground strap had most of the insulation melted off. That’s what caused the ammeter spikes–at that point the bracket was hitting the positive terminal and the alternator was the only thing running the car. Fortunately the ground strap was still intact, so I pried the bracket from the terminal (they were fused together) and drove off, and here I am.
I’d like to have a chat with the engineer who decided the positive terminal of the battery should be so close to the frame, though. Ah well. Thanks God :o)
[/car geek]
Finished Pride & Prejudice last night… That movie’s a marathon, but a pleasant one. The acting and chemistry between the actors are just top-notch. Can’t fault it. Oh, and have I mentioned I want to inherit Pemberly at some point in my life? Now for my hummus (“with 40 spices!”) and whole-wheat pita bread lunch. Yum.
If you inherit Pemberly I get to come visit. Glad all was ok with the car, well ok enough that you or anyone else didn’t get hurt :D
I feel ya
We had a similar experience with our robot. I hope your battery is okay and didn’t get fried too badly. I think as long as it didn’t swell then you should be in good shape. By the time we got our shorter out batteries out of the ‘bot they had swollen like crazy. Glad all is well.
Is that what fried the power couplings (or whatever they were)? A short? I thought it was just miswired or something…
The battery looked okay to me. It’s actually fortunate that battery tie-down was as rusted as it was–if it had been more sound, a lot more current would have passed through it before it disintegrated in two, possibly melting the ground strap and stranding me (or at least forcing me to MacGuyver something). Everything happens for a reason :o)
All this talk of Pemberly has inspired me to say of my apartment, “It’s not Pemberly, but it’s home.”
Thanks :o) I’m glad too.
hello was suggested to talk to you
hi well first off id like to say i like your z i have a 79 280zx but shes in storage right now :( bad head gasket. but anyways i picked up a 82 supra mk2 and was told you could point me in the right direction for mods and parts for it. any help would be great. thanx in advance
wes
Hey. Check out my reply to your post on :o)
Still amused by the “with 40 spices!” bit. I can’t even think of fifteen spices. Amazing… simply amazing.
Hope you’re having a good Wednesday, Matt. :)
(edited because.. sill? this is not geology class)
6 hrs of Jane Austin…
I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that six hours of Jane Austin would be enough to send me to the hospital :o) Hey Matt, it’s Jenn. I started up a new journal on here, so I figured I’d let you know. I hope you’re doing well! Talk to you later :o)
Hey Jenn :o) Yeah, about the Jane Austen thing… Joel stayed at the apartment most of the week since Donald and Rebekah are gone to Florida until Saturday, and he decided to watch P&P too (after I had finished it), since he had only seen the latter half, and the effect that movie has is weird… I couldn’t walk in front of the TV between the bedroom and the computer room and not stand there and watch it for 5-10 minutes. It sucks me in.
So you’re retiring the other journal? Cool to know you’re back on :o)
Have a great Thursday!