ERMCA guys rule [Archive]

orion95gst

09-24-2003, 9:58 PM

I just want to say, ERMCA guys rule.. especially guys like Sean Kelly. (VR4)
He came out to my house in Ormond to pick me up, drove me down williamson and spent 4 sweaty hours with me trying to swap in a new alternator.
Unfortuantely, DSMs suck and mysteriously shit started to smoke, and I had no oil. So my car is still there, but it says a lot that sean would come out and selflessly help me, and I thank him, and I hope all ERMCA guys are as nice/cool as him

-Justin

LethalBird

09-24-2003, 10:11 PM

I'm really touched :D

HORSEpower

09-24-2003, 10:21 PM

It takes 4 hours to swap your alternator? Damn, I can change a clutch in that period of time. I can have my cylinder heads off in that time. Where is the alternator, in cylinder 1?

Kurt

orion95gst

09-24-2003, 10:34 PM

It takes 4 hours to swap your alternator? Damn, I can change a clutch in that period of time. I can have my cylinder heads off in that time. Where is the alternator, in cylinder 1?

Kurt

hehe.. unfortunately, they made DSMs with japanese size people in mind, so just about every nut/bolt had to be done 1/16 of a turn at a time, while having ours hands crushed. That, inaddition to having custom intercooler piping in the way of everything, as well as a downpipe with an 02 eliminator setup, and extraneous 02 sensors in the way. Did I mention an external oil cooler with oil lines running all around the alternator?
Yeah, that and the fact that I am far from a professional mechanic, or even a decent backyard mechanic. It was definitely a learning experience.
That's besides that point, though. I had never met Sean before, and he drove all the way out here to pick me up, waste his whole night helping me try to fix my car, all for no payoff. That's definitely someone who enjoys cars and is nice enough to help someone out when they need it. And it's appreciated.

If anyone happens to be in the area of the speedway around 6pm tomorrow, my car is right there on williamson and I need a "professional' opinion on what the fuck is still wrong with it. Oil/electrical problems scare the shit out of me.

thanks
-Justin

HORSEpower

09-24-2003, 10:46 PM

Unfortunately I will be out of town till next weekend. I would like to see the car the following weekend anyway, whether it is fixed or not.

Kurt

orion95gst

09-24-2003, 10:56 PM

It takes 4 hours to swap your alternator? Damn, I can change a clutch in that period of time. I can have my cylinder heads off in that time. Where is the alternator, in cylinder 1?

Kurt

Did I mention we also had no jackstands and no lighting? It was in a church parking lot using a single flashlight and trying to wedge ourselves underneath my car. Lucky for me, Sean is miniature and could fit wihtout jackstands or a lift :-)

If all goes well, and I get shit working, I should be able to hit the track with you guys in the coming weeks, or at least hit up a cruise or something. There are a couple of guys in the club that I would enjoy showing my tailights to. Not saying I could, but I'd definitely give it my best shot :)

Luke01GT

09-24-2003, 11:05 PM

LOL Sean looks Nigerian LOL I think he rolled in the grease.

TheSean

09-24-2003, 11:24 PM

Kurt, I WISH this car was built like a mustang. The alternator was under the power steering pump, in a nest of wires and hoses like justin said, and the bols were against the frame with 1/2" of lateral space and about 15 degrees of available arc.

This was the longest alternator swap ive ever done.

But i did get realllly dirty and greasy!!! :D observe:

http://www.expha.com/sean/emma/DSC00889.JPG

And yes, i WAS white before 6pm today. Now that face just screams fun right? It was fun, though. Plus I blew off lots of intercooler pipes today! Vrroooom psshht POP!

-Sean

orion95gst

09-25-2003, 6:15 AM

sean, I never got my wallet out of your car!!!
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!

jeremy

09-25-2003, 6:36 AM

You had to take the whole left front axle off of my honda to get at the alternator. It was below and behind the engine. Talk about a bitch.

Luke01GT

09-25-2003, 1:06 PM

That's why some people call these cars "throw-away cars" Please I do not mean this towards anyone's car here, but my neon was just that, a throw away car, something broke? It was so much damn work to get at it you were better off throwing it away and start all over. It would cost more in labor to fix a cheap part than it did to buy another one lol.

TheSean

09-25-2003, 2:29 PM

sean, I never got my wallet out of your car!!!
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!

OOPS :(

If you get the car running, you can swing by today or sometime at school on friday.

Luke, wtf? Just because it isnt designed for easy maintenance doesnt mean it is better to throw the whole damn car away. It cost us $0 to do this. Alternator was on warranty and $0 for labor. Space restrictions in an engine bay do not warrant a shitty car. Ever seen my alternator? Neither have i :( Ever look inside a porsche's engine bay.. OMG you cant do shit.

Right.

-Sean

09-25-2003, 2:48 PM

Ever seen my alternator? Neither have i :(

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Luke01GT

09-25-2003, 3:57 PM

Yes Sean for you and anyone else mechanically inclined it is cheap, however for the common person that cannot do all that and has to pay out the nose for labor at the dealership, they would spent an aweful lot of money on labor. besides this comment was more towards Jeremy's honda. Personally I don't see an eclipse as a throw away car.

orion95gst

09-25-2003, 5:47 PM

well, if anyone is around tonight that could help me out, it would be much appreciated.. I am very scared of starting thst bitch up after last night. i am going to pick up five quarts of oil, and try to start it up and hope and pray that it doesn't smoke like that again.
Sean, I definitely need to get your address or something so I can get my wallet. Not that I have any money, but my plastic is in there ;-)

-Justin

orion95gst

09-27-2003, 10:33 PM

HORSEpower

09-27-2003, 10:44 PM

apparently, Sean and I are qualified to (slowly) install an alternator in a frankensteined dsm engine bay.. WOO!
Now I just need to get a new battery, or find a way to check my voltage regulator, since I am now cruising at 12.1-12.9V rather than 14.4.. Any suggestions?

This Problem may be related to the battery. As the battery charges, the regulator should lower the volage to keep the battery from overcharging. My car drops to 12.3 volts after driving around for awhile. It's perfectly normal. I believe that your alternator is internally regulated, so the regulator should have been changed with the alternator.

If you want a new battery and you can wait till next weekend, I can get you an Optima for $94.27 with tax out the door. I will be in on friday if you are up to it.

Kurt

orion95gst

09-28-2003, 2:54 AM

is that the yellow top?

How's it compare to a diehard gold (besides being leak-proof) for $57 from another friend?

Thanks Kurt

-Justin

HORSEpower

09-28-2003, 10:10 AM

I can get you a basic Discount Autocraft Titanium for about the same price. It's made by the same company on the exact same assembly line as Diehard. That is for a red top, but that would suit your car better anyway. The yellow tops have less cranking power, and are harder to fit into certain cars. I'm not sure what size battery your car uses. Regular batteries last about 3 years in Florida. I had a red top for 8 in my mustang. Then it was in my boat for 2. It's less hassle.

Kurt