PNW Events Next weekend

JMinPDX

JMinPDX

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Members in the Seattle/Portland area. I'm heading to Vintage BMW Gathering 7/26 and Deutsche Marque Show at the LeMay Museum 7/27.
Hope to see some coupes.

View attachment 205415

Deutsche Marque 2025

Fabulous gathering of all the German automotive brands!Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Volkswagen and even BMW Motorrad!Come meet fellow enthusiasts, browse the vendors and check out the massive charity raffle!
bmw-club-psr.org
 
I'm trying to get down for one of those - but will see.
If I do end up going, unfortunately - would likely be in the E23.... The E9 is down right now and I have not had a chance to get it going.... (long story....)
 
So - here is the long story.... :)

I took the car out the other day and quickly came back as I noticed the voltmeter was not showing good things (the motor was running off the battery).
In evaluating the situation, I found the alternator light was not illuminating when the key was 'on'. In working with Don, he first thought the alternator bulb had burned out but after a little more poking around - I found the small wire that goes from the alternator to the dash light had been pulled out of its harness (up in the motor - about 12" from the alternator). Either way - bulb out or wire disconnected - no juice would come out of the alternator.

Evidently, the aft end of the segment of wiring from the alternator to the diode (that is in the loom not too far from the alternator) had pulled free.
I didn't see that at first, but when I removed the wire from the back of the alternator, that wire came totally free. Don't know why that would happen - but that is what makes these cars fun, eh? LOL

I did a quick look and couldn't find a smoking gun as to where exactly where in the loom that wire came from (the wiring loom up there is spiral wrap with tape and I think the tape closed onto itself after the wire came out). There is no visible gap (ie - a small hole) that shows where the wiring had been.
After about 30 minutes of messing around looking at the wiring (and not having best mirrors and lighting for inspecting that area).... my bad back had me move on to other things.
I have not had a chance to get it figured out yet (my back is reallllllly not looking forward to having me hunch over the fender.... again). Maybe this weekend.....
 
Bad back?...join the club. Back problems suck, even doing dishes sometimes mine tightens up. Some days are better than others. Got off the opiate pain meds years ago, stick to the Ibuprofen 800's now for relief. Works pretty well without the addiction issue. I've yet to meet anyone that has had back surgery, that hasn't had to have more surgeries. Staying away from that. I feel your pain brotha! In the immortal words of Hulk Hogan...RIP!
 
No - no shots (for me, yet anyway).
My back is usually 'ok' for most of what I do - but hunched over the fender messing with engine stuff is one of the things that I can only do for so long.
I used to spend tons of time working on my 2002's engine (tune ups, valve adjustments - odds and ends) - but... after I had my back injury in 1989.... I had to break the chores up across different days. I just need to be careful.
And some days are better than others....
 
well now...we have all been through so much together. time to share. I was doing just fine, until I tried to investigate the failing ignition switch problem in my Coupe. Picture this, driver side door a little too close to wall. Feet on floor, back resting on those channels that make up the rocker panels, shoulders resting on the drivers side floor, both arms reaching up under the dash to trace each switch wire back to fuse panel. Next day, the "journey" began.
Cannot do such contortions any more, and males are bad at realizing this before it is too late. So, working through the physio, not too much in the way of "meds" and hoping to come out of this a little more "upright" and perhaps a little smarter.;) Good luck everyone!
 
And we wonder why @sfdon has 'young guys' doing a fair bit of the work on these cars... LOL
I still need to get into the wiring issue on my car. REALLY not looking forward to doing so....
 
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