How much fun can you have in December?

[bentalphanerd]

You may have read in another post about the UJ being torn out of my van & the joy of trying to find a new drive shaft. I found one on Monday & fitted it, went for a test spin & all was good. I almost forgot it was December....

.... The new battery went flat on Monday afternoon meaning another alternator had gone. I wasn't able to price a new or even reconditioned one for less than 380 so knowing I already had a dead alternator from last time in the shed I pulled them both apart to find out whats going wrong. (I have been replacing them every 12 months). I found the problem is that the power steering pump leaks and it sits right on top of the alternator - the oil getting into the alternator eats away a certain part (brushes) & stops the charging. Brilliant design work in other words.
I got a second hand but not reconditioned alternator from the wreckers ($85), some tin snips & a sheet metal 'ant barrier' from Bunnings ($12).

I cut out a little roof so the oil drips off the sides of the alternator instead of into it, cut & drilled a flange so it bolts into the top alt. mount.
I've sourced some replacement alternator brushes for $28 so by next week I'll have 2 spare alternators.

Bring on the next one ...stoopid festive season!

[bentalphanerd]

I probably should also mention that I ran over somebody week before last while on my way to get the boy from school. Well I would have run over him if he hadn't bounced off my bull-bar and landed 6' in front of me.
He's o.k apart from bumps & bruises & lost a little bark, but thats what you get when you run out onto the road between stopped trucks. Did I mention he was facing the other way? I never saw his face & I can guarantee he doesn't know what colour my van is.

Anyone else have more 'fun' than normal in December?

[DevilDuck]

Not that kind of fun...

But I have been doing some work to my Z. It should be a really fun car by Spring.

[Canuk Pepperhead]

The only thing I can say is no fun is all the snow we have been getting..I dont think I have seen this much snow since I moved here 17 years ago and I hate shoveling lol...Ive been beating up my winter car to see if anything is going to break before the safety..the car sat 6 years before I got it...so far so good...Before I wash and put away my jimmy I gotta bring her out and blow a few doughnuts lol..Think Ill do it tomorow hehehe

[fisting_mayfield]

Lol.

Some people have all the luck.

I cant say i have had anything interesting happen in the past couple of weeks. the SO's car's indicators stopped working on the passenger side... i bashed the dash a bit, now there good as gold

[DevilDuck]

FM--

You will probably have to replace the signal relay eventually. Actually, track it down (turn on a blinker and listen for where the click is coming from) and clean the contacts. It'll probably give you about six more months.

[POTAWIE]

I've had enough of winter and it hasn't even officially arrived yet. At least we didn't get that crazy ice-storm up here but enough with the snow!


Here's my chile igloo
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/8386/2105478911f75237b985dm2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[fisting_mayfield]

yeah, the relay is fine...

the right and left sides work through the same relay... and it still clicks when you work the blinker...
its a weird problem. and, of course, the car ran out of warranty 2 months ago!
I suspect its a loose connection, or an open circuit, but it works now, so i'm not so worried!