RE: Electrical problems / rant (long)

["Fry, Larry" <LEF@chem-tronics.com>]

Daun-
  When stuff like this hits you all at once, it can really overload a
person.  Take one thing at a time and, eventually, it will all be right
again (for awhile, anyway).

When you cleaned the corrosion off the battery neg terminal, did you loosen
and remove the cable clamp and clean the mating surfaces of both the clamp
and the post?  If you did not, go out right now and do it.  Also, do the
same for the + clamp and post.  Make them nice and shiney.  Put some white
lithium grease on those surfaces before you reassemble them. I've seen
exactly the symptoms you describe and they were caused by poor contact at
the battery terminals.
HTH

Larry  sandiego16V
old crock and his old 'Roc

-----Original Message-----
From: Daun Yeagley [mailto:vwdaun@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, November 16, 2001 11:29 AM
To: scirocco-l@scirocco.org
Subject: Electrical problems / rant (long)


What am I doing wrong?  Why are the VW gods after me the
last couple weeks?

Yesterday I attempted to fix (and thought I might have
succeeded) my 16v, which has taken on the habit of
intermittently not starting.  Turn the key "on" and hear
the fuel pumps buzz, turn to "start" and it will a) crank
and crank with no hint of life, b) everything in the car
will go dead, or c) start perfectly.  Yesterday, I replaced
the battery (this one was a couple years old) and
thoroughly cleaned the battery terminals.  (I've been
getting more corrosion buildup than I'd like to see.)

Today, start out on my way home from Dayton - had been on
the road only a couple minutes and notice my oil temp gauge
is fluctuating all over the place, and my coolant gauge is
pegged and blinking.  Thought cycling the power might reset
things (HA!), when the key was turned to start I got
response b, above.  Nothing.  Dead.  Luckily I had a set of
jumper cables with me and hooked one end to the negative
terminal, the other to the alternator bracket.  Started the
car.  Went on my way, but the entire time I was *under
load* the coolant temp was pegged / blinking and oil temp
gauge waving.  (Push in the clutch, no load - everything
indicated normally.)

Looking under the hood once I was safely home - I notice
the negative battery terminal has a bunch of corrosion on
it already.  WTF?  I cleaned it less than 24 hours ago! 
I'm at this point positive my problem lies in faulty
grounding, but what is causing the corrosion buildup?  And
where do I go from here other than adding a bunch of awful
wires all over to various grounding points. (Somewhat
band-aiding the problem in this instance methinks.)

Add this to the fact that two days ago the Passat Wagon was
discovered to have a leaking headgasket, AND the shift
linkage came apart on the way home after dark....     the
'80 is, well, undriveable for the time being (as it has
been most of the summer), the truck is down almost to a
shell, and the '85 - well, for the moment it's running but
how long will that last????  AUUUUGH!!!!

The heck with this crap - maybe I should sell everything
and go buy a new Honda.


=====
Daun Yeagley - Wilmington Ohio
'80, '85, & '88 Sciroccos
'82 Pickup
'90 Passat Wagon

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Find the one for you at Yahoo! Personals
http://personals.yahoo.com

--
Email LIST problems to: scirocco-l-probs@scirocco.org.
To unsubscibe send "unsubscribe scirocco-l" in the message to
majordomo@scirocco.org


[Disclaimer]This e-mail is strictly confidential and intended solely for the
addressee. It may contain information which is covered by legal,
professional, or other privilege. If you are not the intended addressee you
must not use, disclose, or copy this transmission. This E-mail is not
intended to impose nor shall it be construed as imposing any legally binding
obligation upon GKN Aerospace Chem-tronics Inc. and/or any of its
subsidiaries or associated companies. Neither GKN Aerospace Chem-tronics
Inc. nor any of its subsidiaries or associated companies gives any
representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the
contents of this E-mail. GKN Aerospace Chem-tronics Inc. shall not be held
liable to any person resulting from the use of any information contained in
this E-mail and shall not be liable to any person who acts or omits to do
anything in reliance upon it.


--
Email LIST problems to: scirocco-l-probs@scirocco.org.
To unsubscibe send "unsubscribe scirocco-l" in the message to majordomo@scirocco.org