TECH TIPS FOR JUNE,1998

AN FRIEND OF MINE IS VERY MECHANICALLY INCLINED, ALTHOUGH NOT A MECHANIC, AND HE HAS A BROTHER WHO WOULD PUT SCROOGE TO SHAME. THIS BROTHER WAS IN WINDSOR AND AS HE WAS LEAVING TO RETURN TO BRANTFORD IN HIS EARLY 80'S PICK UP TRUCK, THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT CAME ON.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO PAY A GARAGE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE "IT WOULD COST TOO MUCH", SO HE DECIDED TO GET IT BACK TO BRANTFORD WHERE HIS BROTHER COULD FIX IT CHEAPER. HE HAD A SET OF BOOSTER CABLES AND HIS PLAN WAS TO GET SOMEONE TO USE THEIR CAR TO CHARGE HIS BATTERY UP AND THEN DRIVE UNTIL IT WAS ALMOST FLAT, THEN GET SOMEONE ELSE TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY, ETC.

WELL HE GOT TO BRANTFORD FROM WINDSOR, A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 180 MILES IN ABOUT 7 HOURS AND WITH 10 BOOSTS. MY FRIEND FOUND THE CAR IN HIS DRIVEWAY WHEN HE GOT HOME FROM THE LAKE, WITH A NOTE UNDER THE WIPER. MY FRIEND CHARGED THE BATTERY AND REPLACED THE MISSING ALTERNATOR BELT AND ALL WAS FINE.

THE BALANCE OF THIS MONTHS TECH TIP IS A REPRINT OF A DELCO TECH BULLETIN CONCERNING THE TENSIONING OF BELTS. THE PROCEDURE IS STRAIGHT FORWARD, ALTHOUGH LOCATING THE PROPER TENSION GAUGE MAY BE THE HARD PART. MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT IF THE FRONT (BEHIND THE PULLEY) BEARING ON A LATE MODEL GM ALTERNATOR FAILS, IN MOST CASES EITHER THE TENSIONER IS BAD OR OUT OF ADJUSTMENT.  WITH EVERYTHING ON AN ENGINE RUNNING OFF A SINGLE BELT, IT BECOMES VERY IMPORTANT AND A JUSTIFIABLE MAINTENANCE EXPENSE, TO SPEND SOME TIME CHECKING THAT SYSTEM SO THAT THE CUSTOMER IS NOT LEFT STRANDED.

MANY OF THE ELECTRICAL PARTS SUPPLIERS ARE NOW OFFERING CRIMP-ON CONNECTORS WITH HEAT-SHRINK TUBING AROUND THE END. THESE ARE SOMEWHAT MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY CORROSION COULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE. I RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT USE ANY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR THAT DOES NOT HAVE HEAT SHRINK ATTACHED OR WHERE YOU HAVE USED A SEPARATE PIECE TO SEAL THE END. THE BEST HEAT SHRINK HAS A 2 PART SLEEVE WHERE THE INNER PART MELTS AND TOTALLY SEALS THE CONNECTION FROM MOISTURE.