Alternator and Tire concerns

[americanjebus]

Ok so i didnt know where to post this so i put this in general because it can apply to all.

I've had the car stored over the winter and am getting it ready to drive again this summer but i have two concerns. One is the alternator, last year out of no where i noticed the top lug w/ the plastic cap on it right next to my fuel return line was getting really hot. In fact i noticed that it was starting to burn the lug. Has anyone seen this or have any idea why it would get this hot? I want to take care of it now rather than when i'm 5 hours down the highway from home.

The other is one of my tires, I have only put about 1k miles on this set but my driver side rear tire has tiney cracks along the camber line. All of the other tires are perect but this one has these cracks in it only after 1k miles. Any input? btw alignment is perfect.

could be nothing or something, has anyone elses alternator done this?

 

[DegreE]

I'd get that alternator tested. When my alternator failed on my Eclipse, that main poz cable was fried and melted. Resulting in alternator malfunction.

And as far as the tire. I'd recommend just getting a new one. Looks like dry rotting.

 

[garagefujimoto]

The tires are fine.

Looks to be like the alternator post may have contacted the fuel line (burnt plastic)?

 

[americanjebus]

^ thats what i thought but there just isnt enough play in either for them to touch. I figured maybe a short somewhere in my electrical would cause this.

 

[supraman7mgte]

i'd pull the alt off and get it tested. that doesnt look good.
as far as the tire,get it checked at a local tire shop

 

[suprabad]

Have the battery checked for a shorted cell too. Alternator is connected right to it... maybe a shorted cell could cause enough resistance in the wire to heat up the post??? Just a theory.

 

[GrimJack]

^ thats what i thought but there just isnt enough play in either for them to touch. I figured maybe a short somewhere in my electrical would cause this.

Will they touch when your engine torques over because your motor mounts are broken?

 

[3p141592654]

High resistance at the connector. Remove the connector (its a nut) and clean all the surfaces, then reinstall.

 

[suprageezer]

3P thats exactly what happened to mine also, the terminals, nuts, and stud corroded and whamo resistence especial.

 

[AF1JZ]

Have you checked all your engine grounds? That might have caused it to do that.

 

[Poodles]

thermal runaway as 3p noted...

Pop that cap and look at the post, it should be a no-brainer if it's the contact...

 

[jetjock]

It took 8 posts...

 

[supraman7mgte]

Mech Summer 2003

Thermal Runaway

Thermal runaway is a condition in which the current for a fully charged nickel-cadmium battery rises out of proportion to the impressed-voltage level. This condition is caused when heat from oxygen recombination-an inherent property of most rechargeable batteries-causes the battery's voltage to drop as it gets hot.

During thermal runaway, the battery can become dangerously hot, emit excessive amounts of toxic gas, and spew electrolyte. This condition can occur in either the battery workshop or the aircraft.

Low electrolyte levels, electrolyte contamination, no gas barrier, or a deteriorated gas barrier can cause thermal runaway.

When oxygen recombination occurs, heat is generated, causing the battery temperature to rise and the battery voltage to drop. This process causes the battery to draw a higher charge current. As the temperature of the battery increases, the battery voltage continues to decrease, and the current progressively becomes greater. As this process continues, electrolyte eventually reaches the boiling point. If allowed to continue, the electrolyte level may fall below the top of the plates, causing them to dry out. The cadmium plates may then ignite and burn like steel wool, melting the separator, causing the cell to short circuit, and igniting the hydrogen in the cell. A battery's stored energy can feed a short circuit, allowing it to burn through the entire battery.


I learn something new everyday!!

 

[Poodles]

Thermal runaway also happens in electrical wiring easy.

Resistance causes heat
Heat causes more resistance

This all happens until something melts

 

[3p141592654]

or bipolar transistors, where increasing heat causes the current gain to increase with obvious bad consequences.

 

[Poodles]

Could it be the regulator as well?

After reading about some guy having his alternator catch on fire internally, when the three lights on my dash started coming on every so often, I got a new one ASAP...

Didn't want to jump to conclusions and post that first, but I'd check it out...