What is that STENCH?

Kent124 · Post by **Kent124** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:58 am

Factory manual states that for a later model cars you should see between 12.5 - 14.5 volts with car at 2,500 RPM, low beams on, heater fan on high at the battery.

2ndwind · Post by **2ndwind** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 12:20 am

There you go again, Kieth: Diagnose first, then fix. I've been fiddling with cars for years and totally agree with you. In mine and others' defense: When I first got started wrenching, I loved taking stuff off, repairing or replacing it trial and error style. It took me forever to admit diagnosing the problem was far more efficient in both time and $$ but most of us don't really know how to diagnose a problem first. It is more difficult than unbolting something...anything!

Part of that has to do with buying and having a lot of cool wrenches and stuff but no gauges because we wouldn't know what to do with them. Now that I am almost old, I have learned that If I can't diagnose the issue in fairly short order, ask someone who can. Even more important is to listen to those who are good at diagnosing.

Look at all the cars on CraigslIst where someone started fiddling with their car and gave up because they didn't diagnose the problem to begin with.

deadmeat · Post by **deadmeat** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:29 am

UPDATE: Found the source of the smell.

The battery has been overheating. It now bulges on the sides and the top has reside from the boiled battery acid. I don't have my multi-meter, but when I get home, I will test across the terminals while the car is running, if I can do so without getting doused in boiling acid.

I suspect I will find that my voltage regulator is bad, as has been suggested. I have the old 45A Marelli alternator. The voltage regulator is internal to the alternator, I believe, on this model. I presume that means I need to replace the alternator to get the voltage regulator replaced, right? Can I get the right alternator at Advance or NAPA? I didn't see bosch listed on their websites, but there were others that were supposed to fit in the 55a and 65a range. I don't want to mess anything up, but I'd really like to avoid waiting for the "too expensive" replacement from IAP. Also, what is the best performing replacement alternator for a 79 spider? Is 85A to high?

Sorry for all the newbie questions, but my weekend plans just changed.

Kent124 · Post by **Kent124** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:35 am

Auto Ricambi sells internal voltage regulators.

4uall · Post by **4uall** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:18 am

they also sell beautiful 95A alternators

New 95 Amp alternator from Autoricambi by itzebtze, on Flickr

deadmeat · Post by **deadmeat** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:36 pm

UPDATE 2: I got to a multi-meter. I read 14.75 at the battery at idle immediately after start. When I revved the engine a few times and then went back to the battery (one man operation unfortunately), I was reading almost 16v at idle. I'm guessing that's too high.

azruss · Post by **azruss** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 4:46 pm

yes, that is too high. 14.75v is pushing the upper limit. 16v is definitey cooking volts. get some alligator clips for your multimeter. put the meter on the deck and run the leads and clip to the battery terminals. if you position the meter right, you should be able to see it in your rear view mirror and you can watch rpms and volts at the same time. Remember the meter reads backwards in the mirror

Kent124 · Post by **Kent124** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 5:19 pm

I used two paver bricks on the accelerator to keep the car pegged at 2,500 RPM during an alternator test.

RRoller123 · Post by **RRoller123** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 5:49 pm

Probably want to get that battery out immediately. The acid is obviously a great personal danger, and if it leaks what a mess for the car!

124ADDHE · Post by **124ADDHE** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 8:44 pm

deadmeat wrote:UPDATE 2: I got to a multi-meter. I read 14.75 at the battery at idle immediately after start. When I revved the engine a few times and then went back to the battery (one man operation unfortunately), I was reading almost 16v at idle. I'm guessing that's too high.

I bet you have crazy bright headlights and the much sought-after speed wipers

Sounds like you got it though, good show!

deadmeat · Post by **deadmeat** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 10:22 pm

Haha. Yes, they are plenty bright. Guess I'll be doing some work under the hood this weekend.

124JOE · Post by **124JOE** » Thu May 03, 2012 9:00 am

and clean up the battery area with baking soda
it will newtralize the acid

deadmeat · Post by **deadmeat** » Fri May 04, 2012 7:05 am

UPDATE FINAL: (I hope). Replaced the alternator. The only one available in my local area was a 55amp Bosch type. It was an adequate replacement for the 55amp Marelli, so while I didn't get a performance upgrade, I didn't have to wait for shipping and the price was only $80. I installed it and replaced the bulging, leaky battery. My fiat runs again. AND as an unexpected benefit, my bouncing tach is now rock solid. I guess it was the bad voltage from the old alternator that was throwing that one off the whole time.

WYSpider · Post by **WYSpider** » Fri May 04, 2012 7:41 am

Glad you got that resolved. Your car will smell better and be safer too

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