Gone baby, gone....

[MoPho]

OK, so here is the Saga.... Al had told me that the battery was likely going to need replacing soon, that it would take and hold a charge if using the car with some frequency, but if it sat for a week it would need to be jumped. Sure enough the car needed to be jumped when it got off the truck, no big deal.

Shortly after posting the pictures in this thread on Thursday, I checked the usual suspects on the car (tires, oil, coolant etc), the car started right up and I set off on my first drive (with jumper box just in case). Took the Freeway to my wife's office to show it off to her, and the car started right up there too. The plan was to take the Pacific Coast Highway and then go up to the twisty roads in Malibu. As soon as I got onto the PCH (about 12 miles from home), the charging light in the tach came on, so I pulled into a gas station and shut the car down and tried to restart in hopes it just needed a "reset". Battery was dead. I jumped it and decided to turn around and head home but I only made it about a mile when the car started sputtering and came to a stop on the side of the road. Could restart it using the jumper box, but as soon as I removed it, the car stalled. A call to Al put out the SOS and I got return calls from the Local guys here and it was determined that I was SOL for the moment. Hagerty road side assistance to the rescue. So I spent more time riding in the tow truck than in the car.

 

Only in Los Angeles - the tow truck operators had just came from towing a Maserati MC12 that blew its clutch with only 250 miles on the clock. They thought the Seven was cooler and asked if they could take their pictures with it LOL

 

Magnus Feuer came over that night to have a look and we determined that the Alternator gave up the ghost

 

Spent the whole day Friday trying to find a replacement alternator. Finally found a parts store that had it in stock only to discover that the Bosch replacement alternator had a design change to the axle and it no longer accepts the pulley that is on the car.

Doug Lieblad had a spare alternator, so went and picked it up and put it on, thought car was fixed. Saturday morning at 5:45 am I went to go down to the famous Cars and Coffee meet here, got on the freeway and the charge light starts flickering. Afraid that the car was going to stall, I got off the freeway. At first I thought maybe I got the tension wrong on the belt so I messed with different tensions to no avail. I was pretty close to Magnus's house, so I drove it over there and parked in front of his house. It was too early to knock on his door so I waited for a more reasonable hour. A little after 7, I see Magnus stumble out of his house in his PJ's to get his newspaper, SURPRISE!! LOL

 

 

We spent the morning checking things and it seemed that the "new" alternator was overcharging. With the overcharging unit in the car, it was determined that it was sort of safe for short drives, so I was able to drive it home and it ran fine. Sunday night I decided to take my wife for a short drive around the block a few times. Next morning I went to take the "new" alternator out and found a big puddle of oil under the car :banghead:

I had not noticed that the original alternator had the mounting ears ground to clear the oil filter, it fit on fine but apparently managed to push the oil filter loose, ugh! Good thing I only went for a short drive.

 

So today I had the original alternator rebuilt (really fantastic little hole in the wall shop), which apparently was completely fried, and all this it seems is because of that damn POS Banning Battery LOL

 

 

And absolutely fantastic support from the local Seveners here, Magnus, Doug and Brad have been a lot of help, both mechanically and morally

 

After writing this I plan to change the oil and put in the newly rebuilt alternator and the new Odyssey battery and hopefully all will be well in the world

 

 

 

The end (I Hope)

 

 

[MoPho]

OK, so here is the Saga.... Al had told me that the battery was likely going to need replacing soon, that it would take and hold a charge if using the car with some frequency, but if it sat for a week it would need to be jumped. Sure enough the car needed to be jumped when it got off the truck, no big deal.

Shortly after posting the pictures in this thread on Thursday, I checked the usual suspects on the car (tires, oil, coolant etc), the car started right up and I set off on my first drive (with jumper box just in case). Took the Freeway to my wife's office to show it off to her, and the car started right up there too. The plan was to take the Pacific Coast Highway and then go up to the twisty roads in Malibu. As soon as I got onto the PCH (about 12 miles from home), the charging light in the tach came on, so I pulled into a gas station and shut the car down and tried to restart in hopes it just needed a "reset". Battery was dead. I jumped it and decided to turn around and head home but I only made it about a mile when the car started sputtering and came to a stop on the side of the road. Could restart it using the jumper box, but as soon as I removed it, the car stalled. A call to Al put out the SOS and I got return calls from the Local guys here and it was determined that I was SOL for the moment. Hagerty road side assistance to the rescue. So I spent more time riding in the tow truck than in the car.

 

Only in Los Angeles - the tow truck operators had just came from towing a Maserati MC12 that blew its clutch with only 250 miles on the clock. They thought the Seven was cooler and asked if they could take their pictures with it LOL

 

Magnus Feuer came over that night to have a look and we determined that the Alternator gave up the ghost

 

Spent the whole day Friday trying to find a replacement alternator. Finally found a parts store that had it in stock only to discover that the Bosch replacement alternator had a design change to the axle and it no longer accepts the pulley that is on the car.

Doug Lieblad had a spare alternator, so went and picked it up and put it on, thought car was fixed. Saturday morning at 5:45 am I went to go down to the famous Cars and Coffee meet here, got on the freeway and the charge light starts flickering. Afraid that the car was going to stall, I got off the freeway. At first I thought maybe I got the tension wrong on the belt so I messed with different tensions to no avail. I was pretty close to Magnus's house, so I drove it over there and parked in front of his house. It was too early to knock on his door so I waited for a more reasonable hour. A little after 7, I see Magnus stumble out of his house in his PJ's to get his newspaper, SURPRISE!! LOL

 

 

We spent the morning checking things and it seemed that the "new" alternator was overcharging. With the overcharging unit in the car, it was determined that it was sort of safe for short drives, so I was able to take drive it home and it ran fine. Sunday night I decided to take my wife for a short drive around the block a few times. Next morning I went to take the "new" alternator out and found a big puddle of oil under the car :banghead:

I had not noticed that the original alternator had the mounting ears ground to clear the oil filter, it fit on fine but apparently managed to push the oil filter loose, ugh! Good thing I only went for a short drive.

 

So today I had the original alternator rebuilt (really fantastic little hole in the wall shop), which apparently was completely fried, and all this it seems is because of that damn POS Banning Battery LOL

 

 

And absolutely fantastic support from the local Seveners here, Magnus, Doug and Brad have been a lot of help, both mechanically and morally

 

After writing this I plan to change the oil and put in the newly rebuilt alternator and the new Odyssey battery and hopefully all will be well in the world

 

 

 

The end

 

 

[slngsht]

sounds like an adventure.

[athens7]

Sounds like life with a hand made British sports car.

[sparecr]

Yes welcome to the world of Lotus and Caterham. :7frog:

 

But the fun factor makes up for well everything else.:7fume:

[scannon]

Lucas, Prince of Darkness has apparently spread his influence to include Bosch alternators!

 

Just look at it as an early bonding experience with your new car. It will be a good, fun story down the road.

 

Skip

 

BTW, one of the best vanity plates I have seen was on a Miata: NO LUCAS

[MoPho]

Yes welcome to the world of Lotus and Caterham. :7frog:

 

But the fun factor makes up for well everything else.:7fume:

 

 

No need for the welcome, I've been a card carrying member for the past ten years, I have a 67 Lotus Elan too

 

Actually, I think this was a sympathetic breakdown as I park the Seven very close to the Elan lol

 

 

Surprisingly, I did not get mad about it at all, actually enjoyed working on it, but I was a bit disappointed as it was like opening your presents on xmas morning only to discover the batteries were not included

 

I think we got it sorted out tonight :hurray:

 

 

[MoPho]

Lucas, Prince of Darkness has apparently spread his influence to include Bosch alternators!

 

Just look at it as an early bonding experience with your new car. It will be a good, fun story down the road.

 

Skip

 

BTW, one of the best vanity plates I have seen was on a Miata: NO LUCAS

 

 

 

I had made a T-shirt that has the Lucas logo on the front and on the back it says "I am not afraid of the Dark"

[Kitcat]

I think its the New Jersey curse! I bought my used Seven at this time last year from a New Jersey owner. Prior owner said it was extremely reliable.

 

I drove it to Ohio and it has not started at least 20x: the starter has been rebuilt 1x, the solenoid replaced 1x & rebuilt 2x. The ignition switch has been replaced, ditto spark plug wires, spark plugs, etc.

 

The car is currently at the shop again because it wont start. I am telling you, once a Seven leaves Jersey it is never the same:).

[RGTorque]

funny u say that because ive bought many cars from nj and ive noticed the same thing...