| Author |
Message |
magoo (Magoo)
Advanced Member
Username: Magoo
Post Number: 3367
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, November 03, 2002 - 1:22 pm: | |
Personally I would try and push it out. If you can't then be careful and If it gives any sign of wierd noises SHUT IT DOWN. You are in a position of doing what you have to do. |
Edward Gault (Irfgt)
Intermediate Member
Username: Irfgt
Post Number: 2196
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, November 03, 2002 - 1:19 pm: | |
Just start it up and drive it out. No warm up necessary. |
Peter (Bubba)
Junior Member
Username: Bubba
Post Number: 209
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, November 03, 2002 - 1:10 pm: | |
Also, I am assuming the belt snapped because of age, though I will check with the ex-owner to see if he had replaced the alt. belt before.
Would hard driving shorten the life of the alt. belt? I was actually driving with A/C off and stereo off, so I guess I wasn't using a lot of electric power. |
Peter (Bubba)
Junior Member
Username: Bubba
Post Number: 208
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, November 03, 2002 - 1:05 pm: | |
Thanks for the input guys.
The oil pressure gauge showed max and the needle didn't move before I shut down. The temperatures are normal for both engine oil and water. Yes, the alt. light was still on when I shut off the engine.
I am calling a tow truck in to take the car away in the morning, but I still need to get the car out of the car park first because of low ceiling clearance before the tow truck can get to it.
Would I damage the engine if I have to start it up (assuming it starts) and drive it out of the car park in the morning? Magoo's comment about not starting it worries me.
If it starts, should I go thru the normal 5-minute warmup routine, or just drive straight out of the carpark (my space is about 200 meters from the exit)?
Thanks! |
Edward Gault (Irfgt)
Intermediate Member
Username: Irfgt
Post Number: 2193
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, November 03, 2002 - 5:51 am: | |
I doubt any damage was done to the engine. There is no real relation to the oil pressure changing other than the posibility that the belt could have knocked the wire from the sending unit and grounded it. If the battery gets too low the electronics can go haywire. I would tow it just to be safe. The risk could outweigh the gain. |
magoo (Magoo)
Advanced Member
Username: Magoo
Post Number: 3361
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, November 03, 2002 - 5:06 am: | |
You are saying that the oil pressure went to max and the alt. light came on. Does max mean the needle went all the way full guage? You are also saying that the temps remained normal. What about the oil pressure guage. Did you still show normal pressure there. If not I would not consider driving it anywhere, not even starting it. The belt if that's all it is is not a big deal. In any event being here and not seeing it and you being there I would have to tell you to have a flatbed take it in. As to damage, the engine may sound normal but I worry about the oil pressure. I guess the alt. light was still on before you shut it down? What was the oil pressure reading? |
Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
Member
Username: Benjet
Post Number: 846
Registered: 1-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, November 03, 2002 - 4:59 am: | |
Not entirely sure how similar the Testarossa and 512TR are here, so this could be sketchy to say the least. If I were in the same situation with my car (keep in mind a possible difference in perspective)...
1. Well it's not in my top 10 worst possible things to have happened. No catastrophic engine failure...the car still driving is good sign.
2. I believe it's not that much labor (not an engine out job to replace), but still quite a pain to get to.
3. Not really, at this point since the car isn't generating it's own power (from the alternator), you are just draining (and running off the power supplied by) the battery. Gauges and other electrical items (inlcudes fuel injection systems), could and MAY be affected and run funny or have been toasted by a voltage spike (up or down) - worst case senario. Voltage may not be constant or stable much longer as the battery isn't used to providing that much power on it's own (for a significant length of time). As to the oil pressure, the pumps are all mechanical and cannot just go to full blast, have the guage and sending unit verified to make sure no damage was done when the alternator stopped (or since). You can also verify correct oil pressure reading with a mechanical guage at the site of the sending unit, check into that before trouble shooting any oil pressure issuses.
4. That really depends on how far it is and how much traffic (and lights etc.) are between you and the shop. Since the battery isn't being charged by the alternator, all your power comes from the battery alone (starter, fuel pumps/injection, spark, brake lights, etc.). Once the juice you have is used up, you aren't going to get much further. I'd guess if you've gone 5+ miles, you might be close to the end of the rope, so to speak, but that would be VERY hard to accurately predict. I think I would rather have it transported the whole way, rather than picked up on the side of the road.
JMHO
-Ben |
Peter (Bubba)
Junior Member
Username: Bubba
Post Number: 207
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, November 03, 2002 - 4:27 am: | |
I took my 512TR out this afternoon for a video session with my girlfriend. I was pushing the car very hard for about 15-20 minutes. Then, on my last run, I heard a loud snapping (didn't know what it was at the time) then the battery light came on and oil pressure went to max. Checked with the ex-owner and he told me it's the alternator belt that has snapped. I managed to drive the car home very, very slowly. I will be taking it to the mechanic tomrrow.
My questions are:
1. How serious is an alternator belt breakage?
2. Is it a huge repair job?
3. Do you think I could have damaged the car more by driving it home, which is about 5 miles from the belt snap location? The car drives and sounds fine all the way, and the oil and water temperatures remained normal as well.
4. If you had the same problem, would you drive the car to the mechanic or have it towed there, assuming the temperatures are normal and the car can drive normally?
Thanks! |
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