Syncro tank strap and starter cable mate to produce leak !!!

[HarryMann]

Extracted from US SyncrolIst message

Subject: [SyncroSA] Follow up to syncro tank leaking...

Hi all,

Here's my story re syncro tank leaking:
It was in fact a rather rare setup of conditions that led to my tank getting a crack and eventually leaking - nobody has to really worry about their syncro tanks unless there's some similar circumstance. If there were, however, i would strongly advise to get it fixed asap for ignorance might lead to the car catching fire.

- Cause -

Somewhen, i'll never know when, someone, i'll never know who, and I wouldn't want to anyway, out of whichever reason reconnected the plus cable to the magnetic switch that sits right on top of the starter motor. If you've ever done so you know that's a job that makes you not only want to swear.
This is being mentioned only to sort of exculpate said person.

Well, once you manage to tighten the nut that connects the cable to the switch you ought to avoid that the cable itself travels upwards - as tightening is to be carried out clockwise, it quite probably will. And if it does it might then sit tautly where it oughtn't to: on the metal strap that holds the tank in place (one on either side). From then on it is only a matter of time until it will be chafed through by jerking and jolting, especially syncro'ing ie going rough terrain/wash board etc.

- Effect -

When it was done (the chafing part) the drama actually only began. I must assume that the occurring short wasn't ever strong enough to flatten the battery, so i never realized - but it must have been strong enough to heat up the holding strap. It did heat up, everytime the engine ran, for months, maybe for years (before my ownership even) cutting its way through (hot knife and butter comes to mind) until it eventually was through making the tank leak.

And then something happened that i'd credit to the fact that a fluid might increase drainage of battery voltage, correct me here, i'm shooting from the hip. After i got my car filled up at the gas station the other day it wouldn't start up, totally flat, no control lights, no nothing, plain dead.
Funny, you drive to the gas station, refill, and there you have it, that is somewhat irritating.

It koood have to do with the battery cable, i'm no expert. Thus I crawled underneath the car giving the floor a good polish. At first i didn't know where to look, after a while i smelt it and slid there on my back just to see what really freaked me out: a fat wet cable sparking at times and diffusing small puffs of smoke every now and then!

- Elimination -

Stuff some tissue between places, imminent danger averted. Jump start the car, drive home. Get tank replaced, slowly but surely stop shaking head, still grateful for having been spared from what could've become real
disaster. After all it might have been more than just my car but maybe all the cars at the gas station let alone the gas station itself!

Know Murphy's law.?

Happy again, Cheers, Bernhard

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PS: see some pictures here

[img:800:887]http://www.montesol.net/goodies/1.jpg[/img]
[img:800:768]http://www.montesol.net/goodies/2.jpg[/img]
[img:800:428]http://www.montesol.net/goodies/3.jpg[/img]

[toomanytoys]

Jeez..........

I think that was a hell of a lot of luck...