Working on the coupe

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Working on the coupe #823439 30/04/2009 11:10 30/04/2009 11:10
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 996 Mitcham/Croydon Coupe_Don OP Enjoying the ride
Coupe_Don OP Enjoying the ride Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 996 Mitcham/Croydon	Hi all, just thought I'd mention this......... I have been doing little bits on the coupe for the past 4yrs and in this time I have rarely disconnected the battery! Yesterday whilst trying to remove my oil cooler pipes I decided to attack a pita nut from another angle and the spanner touched the alternator and the oil cooler pipes causing a flash from the alternator and the negative battery terminal......the spanner was hot and the insulation around the negative wire at the battery terminal end was slightly melted! I only share this at the risk of looking an incompetent wally in the hope that it will stop someone else from having the same thing happen to them, I will from now be disconnecting the battery more often..... lesson learned! Cheers John PS. Hopefully the car will start when I put it all back together!

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: Coupe_Don] #823446 30/04/2009 11:20 30/04/2009 11:20
D doody Unregistered
doody Unregistered D	flipping hell bet that made you jump. fingers crossed for you. the last time i had a spark infront of me i was plugging in a pc into my son's bedroom and the power supply on the pc blew-up and tripped the main how fuse box switch, scared me s**tless

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: ] #823467 30/04/2009 11:51 30/04/2009 11:51
W Wolfman Unregistered
Wolfman Unregistered W	I always disconnect the battery when working on cars, even if its not something electrical related. Only sensible, you never know what accidents might happen if you connect two exposed wires by mistake! -wolfman

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: ] #823480 30/04/2009 12:10 30/04/2009 12:10
P proccy Unregistered
proccy Unregistered P	hmmm, did this when i was a young fella - lost partial thickness of one finger where the charge shot through my gold signet ring, blowing it apart...... not pleasant, and took ages for my finger to heal properly

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: ] #823489 30/04/2009 12:17 30/04/2009 12:17
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 996 Mitcham/Croydon Coupe_Don OP Enjoying the ride
Coupe_Don OP Enjoying the ride Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 996 Mitcham/Croydon	Luckily I was unharmed, definately will be more careful in the future!

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: Coupe_Don] #823493 30/04/2009 12:19 30/04/2009 12:19
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 996 Mitcham/Croydon Coupe_Don OP Enjoying the ride
Coupe_Don OP Enjoying the ride Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 996 Mitcham/Croydon	....... although I have started to see double and hear strange voices Just hope the car starts!

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: Coupe_Don] #823543 30/04/2009 13:40 30/04/2009 13:40
Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 21,071 Chertsey in the Thames bockers Hon Club Member 007
bockers Hon Club Member 007 Forum Fossil Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 21,071 Chertsey in the Thames	I witnessed my brother in law arc hist metal watch strap, the burn was horrific. Sound advice.

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: bockers] #823563 30/04/2009 14:42 30/04/2009 14:42
Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 33,568 Berlin barnacle Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio
barnacle Club Member 18 - ex-Minister without Portfolio Forum Demigod Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 33,568 Berlin	And remember, remove the ground connection (negative) first. Don't get no respect! Coupe Fiat 1994-2000 - an owner's guide <-- clicky!

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: barnacle] #823615 30/04/2009 16:05 30/04/2009 16:05
N NathR Unregistered
NathR Unregistered N	I learned my lesson the first time i removed the turbo from my car. While removing the heat shield it touched the alt and oil cooler pipes and there was quite the spark! Fortunately i was wearing gloves and have always disconnected the batterey regardless since

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: ] #823653 30/04/2009 17:04 30/04/2009 17:04
W Wolfman Unregistered
Wolfman Unregistered W	Just remember to connect it back again afterwards. The number of times that I thought I may have screwed my car up when trying to start it, only to realise I forgot to connect the battery back up ... -wolfman

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: ] #823773 30/04/2009 21:06 30/04/2009 21:06
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 996 Mitcham/Croydon Coupe_Don OP Enjoying the ride
Coupe_Don OP Enjoying the ride Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 996 Mitcham/Croydon	John luckily I didn't get burnt although the spanner was very hot, hope your brother in-law didn't suffer to much! NathR did your car start afterwards??? I didn't get to start the car today, finished fitting the new oil cooler and pipes and fitted a new or hand me down 2.75" downpipe originally Nigel's I think, both have been sitting around for some time now so its been quite a productive few days! Have left the oil draining ready for a new filter and oil tomorrow.........was going to fit another turbo but im knackered and had taken a few days off work to relax, after all that I pray it starts!!! Cheers John

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: Coupe_Don] #823802 30/04/2009 21:48 30/04/2009 21:48
S symonh2000 Unregistered
symonh2000 Unregistered S	I very rarely disconnect the battery when working on the car. I will think twice about leaving it connected now. Removing an oil cooler is not something that you would expect to cause a spark doing.

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: ] #823823 30/04/2009 22:05 30/04/2009 22:05
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 996 Mitcham/Croydon Coupe_Don OP Enjoying the ride
Coupe_Don OP Enjoying the ride Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 996 Mitcham/Croydon	It was so fiddly and awkward I was trying to get at the bolts from every angle And yes I cut my myself this time my index finger, took the skin off where it meets the finger nail! Last edited by Coupe_Don; 30/04/2009 22:07.

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: Coupe_Don] #823835 30/04/2009 22:13 30/04/2009 22:13
Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,671 Newport,south wales B Benny My life on the forum
Benny My life on the forum B Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,671 Newport,south wales	Originally Posted By: Coupe_Don Hi all, just thought I'd mention this......... I have been doing little bits on the coupe for the past 4yrs and in this time I have rarely disconnected the battery! Yesterday whilst trying to remove my oil cooler pipes I decided to attack a pita nut from another angle and the spanner touched the alternator and the oil cooler pipes causing a flash from the alternator and the negative battery terminal......the spanner was hot and the insulation around the negative wire at the battery terminal end was slightly melted! I only share this at the risk of looking an incompetent wally in the hope that it will stop someone else from having the same thing happen to them, I will from now be disconnecting the battery more often..... lesson learned! Cheers John PS. Hopefully the car will start when I put it all back together! Done exactly the same thing a few years ago now i always disconect the battery. Ben

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: Benny] #824020 01/05/2009 10:05 01/05/2009 10:05
C CoupeNewbie Unregistered
CoupeNewbie Unregistered C	Not coupe related, but I was once really proud of myself that I'd fitted a new ceiling light in my bedroom. Of course I had the power turned off while doing this. Afterwards, while demonstrating the fruits of my labour to a friend, she asked how I'd done the wiring, so I whipped off the cover, and pointed to it. Unfortunately, I pointed too closely, and got a 240v shock. Fortunately, I was standing on a bed, so was probably reasonably insulated, and the shock made me recoil, so no serious harm done. Lesson learnt though Hope your car is alright once it's back together !

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: ] #824075 01/05/2009 11:45 01/05/2009 11:45
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 996 Mitcham/Croydon Coupe_Don OP Enjoying the ride
Coupe_Don OP Enjoying the ride Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 996 Mitcham/Croydon	Originally Posted By: CoupeNewbie Not coupe related, but I was once really proud of myself that I'd fitted a new ceiling light in my bedroom. Of course I had the power turned off while doing this. Afterwards, while demonstrating the fruits of my labour to a friend, she asked how I'd done the wiring, so I whipped off the cover, and pointed to it. Unfortunately, I pointed too closely, and got a 240v shock. Fortunately, I was standing on a bed, so was probably reasonably insulated, and the shock made me recoil, so no serious harm done. Lesson learnt though Hope your car is alright once it's back together ! Quality....... I'm heading out now to put it back together, wish me luck!

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: Coupe_Don] #824288 01/05/2009 17:58 01/05/2009 17:58
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 996 Mitcham/Croydon Coupe_Don OP Enjoying the ride
Coupe_Don OP Enjoying the ride Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 996 Mitcham/Croydon	It started! New oil cooler and pipes, oil, oil filter and plugs and uprated downpipe oh and coolant...... almost feels worth it! Last edited by Coupe_Don; 01/05/2009 18:16.

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: Coupe_Don] #824332 01/05/2009 20:11 01/05/2009 20:11
A albertone Unregistered
albertone Unregistered A	Good too hear shes ok.Always disconnect battery meself,only takes a min.I know its unlightly on the coupe but even if ya dropped a spanner on the starter motor and had the car in gear or hands/clothing near n belts,could get very messy

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: ] #824346 01/05/2009 20:39 01/05/2009 20:39
L littledave Unregistered
littledave Unregistered L	Sound advice guys. I got a shock off an old ferrari once wiggling the coil lead when it was running, #*%£ me that hurt. Should never mess about when it comes to leccies....

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: ] #824349 01/05/2009 20:45 01/05/2009 20:45
C coupedave Unregistered
coupedave Unregistered C	Well I remember seeing my uncle attempting to disconnect my aunties car battery when i was a kid and the silly man put the spanner across both terminals by accident, he had a nasty suprise!! was funny for me though!!

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: ] #824352 01/05/2009 20:47 01/05/2009 20:47
L littledave Unregistered
littledave Unregistered L	If not thinking bout your own safety at least think bout potential damage to your baby!!!

Re: Working on the coupe [Re: ] #824378 01/05/2009 21:31 01/05/2009 21:31
P proccy Unregistered
proccy Unregistered P	Originally Posted By: littledave Sound advice guys. I got a shock off an old ferrari once wiggling the coil lead when it was running, #*%£ me that hurt. nothing personal, but that made me laugh out loud...

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