[s-cars] miraculous alternator self-repair

[Paul Gailus]

It's possible that the wire that goes transversely across
the bottom of the engine shorted intermittently to ground
and overloaded the alternator. This wire is inside a metal tube
that is attached to the body by a screw on each end.
The heavy snow could have put pressure against the tube
and wire to deflect them and cause the short.
I would check out this wire carefully for any chafing
or cuts on the insulation.

Paul

----- Original Message -----
From: <stefan13 at att.net>
To: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2003 8:12 PM
Subject: [s-cars] miraculous alternator self-repair


> Having just cleared several driveways (I have retired neighbors) of 12" of
> snow, I decided to treat myself with a little romp in the Avant before the
> Township plow came around.  The car is simply amazing in the snow,
especially
> with the Pilot Alpins.  When I came back, I noticed an electrical/rubber
> smell and buzzing/whining noise from the front of the car.  I opened the
hood
> and poked around with a long screwdriver held to my ear.  Listening until
my
> ear froze, I determined the whine to come from the alternator, and
convinced
> myself that the smell was indeed electrical.  I then turned the motor off,
> removed the serpentine belt and spun every pulley I could get to by hand.
> Ouch - the alternator pully was hot, and so was the alternator - but its
> pulley spun fine.  I then finally put the car in the garage, and continued
to
> poke around with the screwdriver-stethoscope (engine on and garage door
> open), until - alas, the noise went away. WTF?
>
> Any opinions or similar experiences.TIA.
>
> Stefan
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