Strange problem with '85 Brat

[Speedwagon]

The only known issues are:

carb- the car will start and run, but it bucks a lot while driving. It will need the carb to be rebuilt before it will be in driveable condition. I am willing to help fix this pending sale.

 

Supposedly it dies after about 30 minutes of driving, but starts back up right away. Haven't had that happen yet to me though.

 

On the way to work today(driving this '85 Brat), about 10 minutes into the drive, the car started to miss, clock flickered rapidly, radio got real quiet, for about 10 seconds. Then it cleared up, no problems.

 

Went to leave work 8 hours later, and it wouldn't start. Battery was drained, volt gauge reading about 10-11 volts. Push started it, and it drove home ok.

 

Any idea what that was all about?

 

edit: I went to try and start it about 2.5 hours after getting home from work, and it was dead again. Enough power to click the relay, and that was it. So it's either a serious short, or a bad battery. Guess I'll take the battery out and test it first.

Edited May 14, 2009 by Speedwagon

[Twitch de la Brat]

Bad alt?

An intermittent short in the wiring?

An unexplained draw on the system?

Connie...

I think we might have found a duplicate to your problem...

If a new alt doesn't fix the problem.

[Speedwagon]

Bad alt?

An intermittent short in the wiring?

An unexplained draw on the system?

Connie...

I think we might have found a duplicate to your problem...

If a new alt doesn't fix the problem.

 

Can't be a bad alt, I push started the car and it drove home fine.

 

edit: Ok, so I found the problem. The battery/starter cable managed to droop far enough to hit the axle, which in turn burned all the way through the cable, causing a direct short.

Edited May 15, 2009 by Speedwagon