Leaderboard

Today, April 4, 2021, I took the '91 Reatta out of storage for the Spring/Summer/Fall. No auto shows this year, just cruise-ins.

Sometimes my memory is too good and it turns me into a Debbie-Downer. ? When I remembered you writing about getting fireworks from the alternator when you hooked up the battery I was seeing visions of a shower of sparks. Don't beat yourself up. I've done a lot worse than that and I've been a mechanic all my life. Some of it cost me a lot more money to. We all make mistakes.

Actually there were no sparks, just a sizzling sound and a few whisps of smoke from the alternator, nothing more and quickly disconnected the battery. Also, have checked all the circuit breakers and they're all good, now on to all the accessory fuses and getting a good look at the fusable links. Trying to stop beating myself up and think of this in a hopeful light.

I did something similar when I was racing motorcycles on alcohol. I didn't cut it back like you did. Instead I filed it more to a point on the end which makes it easier to fire under high compression. I reduced pinging under heavy loads at low RPM as well improving throttle response. Engines running on alcohol need more ignition timing and larger jets. The ignition systems back then were marginal so doing what you could to make the plugs fire more easily was helpful. I didn't have to file the electrodes to a point after I discovered the U-gap plugs that already had more sharp edges on the electrode to make them easier to fire. I wonder if they still make the U-gap plugs? Since ignition systems have improved so much with the electronic ignitions systems electrode modifications and U-gap type plugs may no longer be helpful or needed.

'92 TranSport still had the metal intake. Think the plastic one began later.

L-27 (1992 TranSport) did not have an EGR.

I took my Reatta out for it's first Spring shakedown drive. After closing the battery disconnect knife switch and checking fluids I turned the key and it fired right up and purred like a kitten. No more dead batteries after sitting for a while since I installed the knife switch. I drove about 50 miles round trip and had a great time.

Yes, but the computers ECM, BCM and the electronics for the touch screen are pretty sensitive. I would think the fuses should blow before any damage was done but who knows? I've never known of anyone hooking up a battery backwards on a Reatta before. Anytime you see smoke and sparks flying anything could happen to sensitive electronic parts. You will just have to install the new alternator, repair the cables and go from there.