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Hello all,
I have a 1990 900 SPG.
The other day I was going through an intersection too fast (trying to make it through a yellow light--I know, patience is a virtue...) and I hit a dip and bottomed out in the front, HARD.
A few minutes later, my battery light came on, although I was running about 2k rpm. I downshifted to have higher rpm, and it went out. A few minutes later, the same thing. I think maybe the ABS light came on at the same time but I don't remember.
When I got to my friend's house a few minutes later, I let the car idle while I adjusted the fog lights which I think got bumped when I bottomed out (or else on a curb somewhere--they're always getting bumped it seems). I had left the interior light on, and when I got back in the car and turned on the fog lights, the engine shortly after sputtered and died, and then wouldn't crank over. I got a jump and several times the engine would die shortly after the cables were removed, although it seemed that if I kept the idle high it was okay.
Finally got the car running and kept the idle high on the way home. When I got home I let it sit and idle normal for a few minutes and there was no problem. Turned the car off and went inside.
Next day, car started no problem, but no battery light when I first turned the key. Drove about fifteen minutes towards work and the ABS lights came on. I could feel the car wanting to sputter out. I increased the idle but it ended up stalling and not turning over. Got a jump, the car died despite a high idle a minute after the guy drove away (d'oh). Another fellow stopped and left his car attached and running while we chatted for several minutes, to charge my battery. Drove home and again let it sit and idle normal, no problem. Drove to the auto place to get the battery and charge system tested, the ABS light came on, I idled high but no good, the car died again.
Took the battery (2 years old) to the autozone--it was completely dead. They charged it and tested it and it was okay. Put it in the car and drove to autozone. The battery read 12.25 volts with the car off and ~11.99 with it on.
Oh my gosh sorry for the long long post. Here's my question: could I have dislodged something when I bottomed out that's causing a poor connection? I've had the car for two months and never had this problem. The battery was dead when I first got the car; jumped it and drove around a bit and it seemed fine, so I have a hard time believing the alternator just up and died.
Some background: when I first start the car I get a squealing sound for a minute. It seems to be worse when it's cold. I'm assuming it's a slipping belt, maybe the harmonic balancer? If the HB is bad obviously that would impede my alternator, but the belts don't seem to be turning slowly or anything... Also, a few hours before the above story, I put some brake fluid in and a gust of wind blew a little bit awry (possibly splashing something sensitive?). And why would the battery light suddenly stop working?
Finally, the bentley manual says that the battery light should be 2 watt but there's a 1.2 watt in there, which the manual says can cause the battery to not charge properly. It's been the same bulb in there since I've owned the car though.
Any help is appreciated. I'm not real mechanically inclined but my Dad and I are going to work on the car this Saturday. I don't want to just replace the alternator if it's just a connector shook loose.
Thank you thank you! Sorry for the long post...
...Sky
posted by 130.91.9...
, Thu, 7 Jan 2010 14:06:42
, Thu, 7 Jan 2010 15:58:27, Fri, 8 Jan 2010 09:49:45
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