Saturday, October 30, 2004
I Hate Cars. How Is Your Day?
My brother came over to continue my adventure with the starter in my van, a 1993 Plymouth Voyager. He got it out by removing the 3rd bolt I was unaware of, aided by the fact the replacement only had two bolt holes, and undoing the electrical connections that were not exactly the same (but close) as the ones on the replacement. It also helped that he brought a floor jack.
We ended up back at Autozone and had a completely problem-free exchange, plus I got pads and rotors, which were cheap even for the good ones. The guy there was great, and now that I have dealt with him twice, I think he may be my cousin’s kid. How funny. That would explain why he looked familiar. While we were out, I treated my brother’s four hyper little rats adorable kids to McDonald’s, which kept them in check while my brother put the new starter in.
Turn the key… nothing.
Check the power and clean the battery posts and clamps… nothing.
Jump the battery from Deb’s truck for a few minutes… sounds a lot like the sound of “needing a starter.”
Jump for longer and longer… try periodically… it just won’t start, grinding and balking. It appears that something is drawing power at all times, which could help explain the dead as a doornail battery. The battery is such a good one and recent enough I would expect as many as five more years reliable use out of it.
Tried jumping from my brother’s car, no dice. We didn’t try my cables, which are high quality, heavy duty ones (bought in part because I was tired of too short cables that frazzled easily), but I doubt cheap ones made that big a difference.
Eventually he had to take the hellions little angels home. It was cool they got to meet their new cousin and rearrange our house. Just before he left, we undertook my idea of putting the newer but not as extreme quality battery from the Sentra into the van. That was highly enthusiastic, but didn’t quite start. Something grinds and squeals and sounds pretty unhappy.
Meanwhile, the van’s battery started the Sentra, if not with total enthusiasm. Idea was I could charge it that way rather than putting it for several hours on the old battery charger I have.
As we speak, the Sentra has been sitting out there, cabled to the van, charging the van’s temporary battery for going on an hour. Meant to go back out sooner.
IF it will start and keep being able to start, I can get the brakes replaced by my brother Monday night. Nothing like cutting it close!
See, Deb’s parents will be here Tuesday, needing to be picked up at Logan something like 5 PM. I can go there in the Sentra, get them and their luggage, and drive them back here, where they can then see Sadie and Deb. From here they’ll drive Deb’s truck (which started right up like a champ after several weeks… maybe even 3 months or so) while they are in the area.
It would be sooooo much nicer if the three of us could get in the van, drive to the airport, pick them up, and have them able to see Sadie at the first possible chance. Not to mention Deb is allowed to drive now and will need the van in order to drive anywhere with Sadie. Not to mention it’s warmer and nicer in the winter than the van, though the van handles at least as well in snow and ice. At least to me, preferring a standard shift.
Cars. Sigh…
Here’s hoping it’ll start now, and will get over itself afterward. I suspect enough of a problem that it may yet end up in a shop for more than the overdue oil change (which I’d have done myself this week if it weren’t such a pain to get rid of the used oil).
Update:
Aha! It cranked with great enthusiasm, but squealed like a hardcore Democrat on November 3rd. One who’s been caught at election fraud and yet has seen his candidate lose anyway.
I had a good look at the belt and pulleys, at least the top one connected to the alternator. The alternator is fine to the eye and cool to the touch, but the pulley could be used to brand cattle at the Fried Pulley Ranch.
Called and left my brother a voicemail, since he had asked how it went before I went out there, then had to leave on errands with the wife and miniature domestic terrorists little squirts. My question is whether it is the alternator per se that is dead, or some other thing causing a siezed pulley. I’m guessing it’s all one with the alternator and Autozone will see me again. At least alternators are traditionally fairly easy to replace.
I see this as a bad news and good news thing. Another part to replace, but an explanation and solution appears at hand, and if the problem can be identified, the car can be fixed and used. And still with no garage needed.