spmdr
Diamond Level Sponsor
Well, I need to back up in time...
JUST to give you an idea How much
FUN I have been having with the
Weekend Racer Alpine...
I changed the carb float levels,
I backed the car up and it SHUT
OFF, DEAD!
NO power! How can that be??
After trying the ignition switch
several times in disbelief, I realized
something drastic has happened.
I jumped out of the car and grabbed
tools to open the screwed down battery cover.
Upon removing the cover, I found the battery
cables quite HOT!
I quickly removed a cable and started
to wonder...WHAT the HELL??
The last electrical change I made was
installing the MSD ignition system.
Could it be the MSD Box has shorted out?
I rolled the car back in the shade
and proceeded to trouble shoot the short.
I could NOT find a problem!
I charged the battery a bit and hooked
the cable back up. It started right up.
However, It was Not charging.
I knew it would be just a matter of time
before I had an issue with the Generator
based charging system, I expected the
high RPM use to take it's toll on the poor
generator.
I decided to take this opportunity to just
change to an Alternator based charging system.
I used the spare alternator for the Love Bug
Alpine.
Time was getting tight, just enough time to
check the carbs and reset the floats if needed,
before loading up the Alpine to take it up to
the Tigers United event.
I fire up the Alpine and back it up and it shuts
OFF DEAD! Same problem!
Ditto ALL of the above... all the way to NOT finding
a problem! What the HELL AGAIN!!
The only good news is the charging system is
still working.
After scratching what remains of the little bit
of hair off my head,
I concluded it had to be an issue with
the Positive cable going to the starter solenoid.
I put the car up on jack stands and looked over
the cable, I found a few locations where the metal
clips Could have shorted out the cable. I isolated
the metal clips and figured that Had to be it.
Down on the ground, I fired it up and backed it up.
It shut off DEAD again!
Ditto the drill #3...!!
FINALLY I put the clues together....the battery
cable was getting shorted by the steering Arm
at full lock!...That was the one area I could
not clearly see the path of the cable....
Back up on the jack stands....
I found this:
I put some shrink tubing over the cable,
rerouted the installation as best I could,
loaded up the Alpine and got to the TU
event Just in time to see them putting
away what little was left of the Welcome
Dinner food...
DW
JUST to give you an idea How much
FUN I have been having with the
Weekend Racer Alpine...
I changed the carb float levels,
I backed the car up and it SHUT
OFF, DEAD!
NO power! How can that be??
After trying the ignition switch
several times in disbelief, I realized
something drastic has happened.
I jumped out of the car and grabbed
tools to open the screwed down battery cover.
Upon removing the cover, I found the battery
cables quite HOT!
I quickly removed a cable and started
to wonder...WHAT the HELL??
The last electrical change I made was
installing the MSD ignition system.
Could it be the MSD Box has shorted out?
I rolled the car back in the shade
and proceeded to trouble shoot the short.
I could NOT find a problem!
I charged the battery a bit and hooked
the cable back up. It started right up.
However, It was Not charging.
I knew it would be just a matter of time
before I had an issue with the Generator
based charging system, I expected the
high RPM use to take it's toll on the poor
generator.
I decided to take this opportunity to just
change to an Alternator based charging system.
I used the spare alternator for the Love Bug
Alpine.
Time was getting tight, just enough time to
check the carbs and reset the floats if needed,
before loading up the Alpine to take it up to
the Tigers United event.
I fire up the Alpine and back it up and it shuts
OFF DEAD! Same problem!
Ditto ALL of the above... all the way to NOT finding
a problem! What the HELL AGAIN!!
The only good news is the charging system is
still working.
After scratching what remains of the little bit
of hair off my head,
I concluded it had to be an issue with
the Positive cable going to the starter solenoid.
I put the car up on jack stands and looked over
the cable, I found a few locations where the metal
clips Could have shorted out the cable. I isolated
the metal clips and figured that Had to be it.
Down on the ground, I fired it up and backed it up.
It shut off DEAD again!
Ditto the drill #3...!!
FINALLY I put the clues together....the battery
cable was getting shorted by the steering Arm
at full lock!...That was the one area I could
not clearly see the path of the cable....
Back up on the jack stands....
I found this:
I put some shrink tubing over the cable,
rerouted the installation as best I could,
loaded up the Alpine and got to the TU
event Just in time to see them putting
away what little was left of the Welcome
Dinner food...
DW
