OK...add another one to the "WTF" files. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img]
I've been chasing after a rattling noise since I got the new trans in. For all intents and purposes, it sounded exactly, and I mean <span style="font-style: italic">exactly</span> like a nasty exhaust leak. I've been under the car several times to try to find it, all to no avail.
I just crawled out from under the car again after shimming up the back of the trans as far as it will go. (I'm going to have to trim the shifter hole to go any higher, that's all there is to it but that's a post for a later date).
I fired the car up and stuck my head under the car to try to find the source of the rattle. Oddly enough, it doesn't sound like it's coming from under the car at all...as a matter of fact, there are no unusual under-car noises at all. The noise sounds like it's coming from the engine bay towards the front of the car.
I peek my head over the door and look towards the engine bay, and that's when I see the fan belt jumping wildly. At first I thought the fan was hitting the shroud, so I shut it off and checked the fan--nope, not hitting the shroud.
So I take a look at the alternator....hmmmm....
See anything..."unusual" here???...
It took me a moment to see it....
Look at the bottom of the alternator case.
The alternator case cracked! It must've happened when the old driveshaft went kerflooie...who would've thought that could transmit enough energy through the engine to crack the friggin' alternator?!?
SO here shortly I'm off to the parts store to pick up another alternator. HOPEFULLY this is the last little gremlin to be evicted from the car.
With any luck I'll be back later with a road report.