Because if it isn't, this can happen:

 

I was cruising on the interstate at about 70 when I suddenly heard a knocking sound from under the hood. Looked at the oil pressure gauge and it read zero. Almost crapped my pants, and pulled over.

 

Turns out the oil sending unit wire came loose and drifted into the drivebelt. The belt ripped it out, and in the process, 2 of the 4 ribs of the serpentine belt shredded off. The flopping chunk of belt caught on the dipstick, pulled it out and flung it onto the highway somewhere, and I'm assuming either the flopping belt or the dipstick hitting the hood made the knocking sound.

 

So the moral of the story... keep any loose wires secured! (and carry an extra pair of pants)

Dosen't that scare the heck out of ya?! Had it happen couple of weeks ago.

Hahaha!

 

I'm glad I'm not the only one thats done that:o

 

So the moral of the story... keep any loose wires secured! (and carry an extra pair of pants)

 

and ....always have your camera handy!!

 

I am glad you fixed it!!!

Thanks for the heads up on the loose wire issue.....

 

The more I learn about these cars the more I laugh about the dependability about these cars and how hard the kids push them...flying down the highway with a Big S on their chest....

 

I am a Noob, but some things I noticed in your photo....

1. I believe that is an Original Alternator... or was from some rig. Lets say your rig is an 88, that makes that alt about 17 years old... I might be wrong.. but that green band.... looks Factory.

 

2. The 90 deg. hose under alt... original....

 

3. No timing belt covers... for those quick (along side road) changes.

"Belt covers, we don't need to stupid Timing belt covers".....

 

4. Years of grease and build up.... gives it that, well worn look like a good pair of jeans.

 

When I was early 20's my rig was a 69 Ford van. It had alot of the same traits that these Subaru's do... that is they go, and go, and go...

Actually, the engine WAS fairly clean, not too awful much grime... until the power steering pump locked up. The belt scraped over it for a bit, and left a fine coating of black dust all over everything, looks like grime but wipes off with the brush of a hand. 90 degree hose looked and felt good when I inspected the water pump, so I left it alone. Same with the alt, it charges just fine, so if it ain't broke, don't fix it...

 

The engine is a nonturbo MPFI out of an '89 XT, hence the serpentine belt setup instead of V-belts. Decided to go nonturbo on this particular car because of my bad luck with turbos. The project car, however... that one's my baby and is put together 100% by-the-book. No loose wires, clean, shiny, and sealed CCR EA82T, and timing belt covers snugly in place. Once I get up off my butt and finally finish it, it's going to look brand new inside and out, and under the hood too.

Looks like it could have been worse. Looks like you are running without timing belt covers. So at least they did not get damaged.

cool!

 

can I get a couple good pics of the alt. mount bracket??

 

I'm with the "panasonic"

cool!

 

can I get a couple good pics of the alt. mount bracket??

 

I'm with the "panasonic"

 

This setup is from an XT and is totally different from the sedan/wagon setup. Compared to the wagon setup, this alternator mounts "sideways."

it looks like just the trick to make the xt6 alt fit

> 1969

 

Ha! my other vehicle is a 1969 Dodge Sportsman camper van.

 

Also the year of the first landing on the Moon, a good year for simple brute force technology that worked.

I use a couple of cable ties to keep the sending unit wire on the pass side of the dipstick. That way, if it comes loose, it can't go too far.

Had that happen with the #1 plug wire 'cause I got in a big hurry and didn't run it the right way. These engines just don't run to good on 3 cylinders.

Had that happen with the #1 plug wire 'cause I got in a big hurry and didn't run it the right way. These engines just don't run to good on 3 cylinders.

 

Actually, I put 1500 on car wagon with only 3 cylinders. Blew a spark plug right out on the engine, and I kept going

yeah, the oil sending wire on my 84 merc station wagon would flop around and intermittantly contact the frame, causing the one warning light for the overheat or low oil pressure to come on. Caused heart failure first coule times, till I figured the real reason. And in the day of really crappy cars I used to keep the battery from floppng around in the 73 maverick by keeping a plastic oil bottle wedged between the fender wall and the battery. One day it popped out and got in the fan, thought for sure from the noise the engine, transmission or both was shedding major metal!