YACT: How to make it start again for under $3

EyeMWing

Banned
Jun 13, 2003
15,670
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Ah yes. That sucked. Just took the '89 Turbocharged Plymouth Voyager down to Rat Shack to look for a TV signal amp. Naturally, their in-store prices sucked compared to their online price, so I left. Whoops, the van doesn't wanna start! Turns over once, nothing more. Look around the shopping center for an automotive store - see nothing. Check out the battery, it's a 60 month battery from Sept 1999. Should still be good anyway. Figure the battery terminals must just be corroded (They look pretty f'n nasty). Now, since this vehicle is a new addition to the collection (Fits in parking garages AND doesn't block 20 spaces in a modern shopping center), there are no tools stashed yet. So, I hoof it up to Walmart about a mile away (I figure it's not worth the effort to ask any if the people in the shopping center parking lot if they have tools in their bimmer or will give me a jump. I'm serious, every other car in that lot was a BMW.)

Once I'm there, I head for the tools and grab myself a $1.88 5" vice grip and look for some stuff to clean the terminals with. Nothing there, nothing in automotive. Over to housewares. Find a scrubbing pad for $.47. Also grab a coke figuring that I can either use it's acidity to eat away any corrosion or to keep me from dying (I've got a cold). Not counting that in the total though. Stand in line behind some asshole who buys the wrong CARTON of ciggarettes by "accident". They void his transaction and redo it with the right ones. His credit card company didn't process the void in realtime, so he's now OVER THE F'N LIMIT.

Once they get that idiot figured out, I pay for my scrubbing pad and vice grips in cash and hoof it back to rat shack. Then I discover the pad is too big to use to scrub out the connectors. Easily fixed, I whip out the pocket knife and end that problem. 5 minutes later, after everything's cleaned up, I get in, turn the key, and the turbocharged beast kicks in.

-- Freaking chemistry.
 

d33pt

Diamond Member
Jan 12, 2001
5,654
1
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Originally posted by: Roger
Pepper and egg work well for temp. sealing holes in radiators as well ;)

won't that plug up your water passages in the block too?
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
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Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
SWEET ride!!!!

Just got done rebuilding the trans and installing an intercooler in my 89 turbo caravan :)

Intercooler :D

Sweet, now that you have the piping setup, upgrade to an NPR ;)
 

EyeMWing

Banned
Jun 13, 2003
15,670
1
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Originally posted by: geno
Dude, you have a turbo mini!? I'm jealous :D any mods?


I hope you realize that it's a minivan, not a mini :p

But, assuming you do, I've got the '89 Chrysler radio ripped out, working on a Carputer for it. Radio's going up and it's a PITA to find a replacement because Chrylser used a proprietary size.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Originally posted by: geno
Dude, you have a turbo mini!? I'm jealous :D any mods?


I hope you realize that it's a minivan, not a mini :p

But, assuming you do, I've got the '89 Chrysler radio ripped out, working on a Carputer for it. Radio's going up and it's a PITA to find a replacement because Chrylser used a proprietary size.

yes, we call them Turbo Mini's within the circle of Turbo Dodges :p As for the radio, I'm sure an adaptor plate would work just fine.
 

thedarkwolf

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
9,030
123
106
I have an aftermarket radio in mine so they do make adapter plates.

http://www.thedodgegarage.com/index.html check that place out too. These minivans are gaining a lot of popularity lately. I have the van and a 5.0l mustang and believe me beating people with the van is a hell of a lot more fun :).

And just to plug my van's website ;).
 


Originally posted by: Roger
Pepper and egg work well for temp. sealing holes in radiators as well


DrumminBoy
if thats true...please elaborate


If while out on the road your radiator springs a small leak, let the vehicle cool down so the radiator cap can be removed safely, sprinkle a fair amount of pepper into the radiator, replace cap and drive on.
The small pepper particles work thier way around the cooling system, when the come to the leak they will be forced into the hole, swell up and plug it temporarily

If you manage to actually puncture the radiator with say a rock and there is a good size hole in it, poor two uncooked eggs into the radiator, these will find thier way to the hole, harden up and plug it so you will be able to transport the vehicle to the nearest shop or home.



d33pt

won't that plug up your water passages in the block too?

No they will not, both are organic, eventually they will break down, obviously you will have to thoroughly flush your cooling system once the radiator is repaired.

These are very, very old mechanics tricks I learned from my father long, long ago.


 

chin311

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
4,306
3
81
or sounds like you could prevent the breaking down by keeping your engine clean :p