Looking for Ideas/Rant about New Jersey Turnpike/Car Got Demons

[tberk@mindspring.com (T Berk)]

Robert Luhrs wrote:
> 
> Rather Long... as a warning  :)
> 
>         So, Driving home to VA from MA, on the New Jersey
> Turnpike, all of a sudden, at about 70-75mph, transmission jumps
> out of 5th gear.  Hmm.. rev match, put it back in.. fine for a while,
> then pops back out.  

5th gear popping out = low on trans lube. 2.2 qt. is nominal amount,
enough to find the last .2 is trying to escape out the side fill hole in
the transaxle when on flat ground.

Continuing with this condition = grinding metal, you get the picture.


> Stop, get gas, start driving again, does it again,
> I get it back in gear, then it starts stumbling.. then the radio starts
> turning itself on and off, 

Sounds like a general lack of electrical power, perhaps dipping low
enough to fail to charge the Alt. Also I wonder how the fuel pump relay
is, despite the good sound it was making at one time.



> I go to 4th, it stumbles there too, I pull over,
> as I come to a stop, the car dies.  I turn on the hazards.. the
> indicator light in the dash comes on and blinks along with the
> hazards button light.. amazingly, the outside blinkers do NOT blink..

Your main electrical system is failing, I suspect the ground straps, and
or Alt to block, to chassis connections- resulting in electrons 'back
washing' up a path that is unprepared to handle the current. Gets HOT!
and raises resistive value, shuts down flow. (Sketchy  I know but I've
seen it happen).

> but the radio turns on and off as the hazards button light blinks.  I try
> restarting, nothing at all.. I hear the fuel pump, but nothing else..
>          Car sits for a while waiting for tow truck. after 90 minutes I
> idly try starting the car, starts right up... hmm.. 

See? Cool off some.

> still 180 miles to go..
> think I'll just take the tow truck.. turn it off.  Things I checked :  All
> the belts were still in place.. no leaking from anything.. wires to
> starter/alternator/etc dry (was running A/C, condensation may have
> shorted something and then dried just sitting there). 

What kind of electrical meter do you posses? What? Well, Geeeet one.

Need to know what battery reads at rest, what battery posts read when
car is idling, and what say, the cig lighter socket reads for voltage
during idle and revving.

> Tow truck tows
> car off of next exit, I try starting again.. fails miserably(tries to
> turnover, fails, I don't try again.)
> So, any thoughts on the transimission popping out of gear?  And
> things to check for the stumbling issue?
<snipage of gentle rant>
> 
> Thanks for any/all help.. car is an 88 16v.
> Rob Luhrs


Well, Either something is _draining_ too much OR something isn't
_putting_out_ enough power. We need testing, testing, more testing. I
like the pull the fuse and test across the terminals when at rest for
amperage idea too. 

I hate (not really Hate) the electrical questions because your car is so
far away & I need to lay on the hands so to speak. "Dude!, stop fondling
my car!"  :])

TBerk