First Test & Tune of the Season!!!!

[sb_600]

- Pat set the course, and bits of his trunk, on fire.

we need details!

[Protege2886]

Damn - I deleted the picture he sent me.
Oh well Pat will fill you all in

[Aero]

- Pat set the course, and bits of his trunk, on fire.

Story time! Anybody care to elaborate?

[Protege2886]

Loose battery + trunk liner = Do you smell smoke?

[ZOO]

Glad people enjoyed themselves -- we were occupied with Easter dinner.

Looking forward to seeing the "wrapped" Miata -- I've thought about something similar for mine

[davet82]

Loose battery + trunk liner = Do you smell smoke?

Pat it's NOT uncommon

(see point 3)
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5613&p=34886&hilit=battery#p34886

but.. with convertibles.. you smell hear everything..

often i'm asking myself, do i hear _____ or do i smell __________ thinking it's my imagination

sometimes it's my imagination.. othertimes it's real

[ZOO]

Miata batteries are poorly secured at the best of times -- I've had mine break loose and move around several times -- especially in an autox setting. I finally bought one of these:



And I am running an AGM wheelchair battery.

[condor888000]

Well I assume you all remember Greg's issue at Nationals? If you don't, the battery broke loose and shorted out, killing itself. This was a little more dramatic.

First run of the day, car sputters and dies. It comes right back so I don't think anything of it. It does it again about 15 seconds later and I clue in that this was the exact same issue that Greg had when it was his. Coast back to the paddock, pull in, park, pop the trunk. Smoke. A pretty significant amount actually. Pull the carpeting back around the battery, its smouldering so put that out. Look inside...the insulation on the inside of the fender is on fire. Not a big flame, so easy to extinguish, but it keeps smouldering.

Reach in with my nice new leather + nomex gloves and pull it out...then I notice the damn battery looks like it's on fire! It wasn't, the case was just melting a bit. But after the last accident we had shimmed the battery to stop it from moving around...with wood. Ya...didn't think that through. Grab the wood, throw it to the ground, get it put out too. Start assessing the damage. Minor stuff really. Insulation is gone, carpet has a section about 4" x 2" melted away, side of battery is melted, but maintained integrity, wood shim was charred and there is now a slight paint bubble on the fender.

Here's my theory of what happened.
1. The nut on the tie down vibrated off, allowing the tie down to swing around. This is for sure because when I grabbed the battery I was able to move it, the ut had come off.
2. The tie down made contact with the positive terminal, causing the car to die when that happened. Evidence on the tie down also confirms this.
3. The sparks were severe enough to light the insulation on fire, which then started the battery to melt, and lit the shim.
4. I noticed, put everything out.

I ended up(with Phil H's assistance and suggestions) pulling the shims out, and putting a couple smaller ones in different places where they were less likly to catch fire. The tie down was wrapped with duct tape to pevent it from conducting, and the nut was tightened enough to make sure that the battery would stay put. In fact, I crushed part of the case getting it tight. No big loss, was going to get rid of it after this anyway.

New battery was bought and installed yesterday, seems to have a much better mount on the battery to accept the tie down. Locktite on the nut to keep it in place as well. I'm just going to check it every event when I check my lug nut torque now, just to be sure.

All in all...kinda wish I had a way to see this, musta been pretty spectatular to see the sparks!

[schmoo]

Since 2009, my mental "working on car checklist" has included:

"It might be tight, but is it Picton tight?"

If you have a loose fastener, that place will find it for you.

[condor888000]

Hum, that bracket Rob posted looks intriguing. I'll have to get some measurements to see if it'll fit my battery.

[Protege2886]

Since 2009, my mental "working on car checklist" has included:

"It might be tight, but is it Picton tight?"

If you have a loose fastener, that place will find it for you.

Pat, I'm glad everything is ok.

Schmoo, I will resist adding one of my "jefe" comments to your post.

[ZOO]

Hum, that bracket Rob posted looks intriguing. I'll have to get some measurements to see if it'll fit my battery.

Pat -- I got mine from King Rat Motorsport -- for whatever reason Saferacer won't ship to Canada (or even accept Canadian inquiries). King Rat didn't "really" want to send it to Canada, either -- but I was able to sweet talk "Kim" into doing it. It arrived, shipped, for just over $60.

[eyemaster]

...

All in all...kinda wish I had a way to see this, musta been pretty spectatular to see the sparks!

Build yourself a plexi glass trunk lid... Or install a web cam with live streaming in your trunk. Knowing you, it''ll not be the last time... he he

[el_torpedo]

Hum, that bracket Rob posted looks intriguing. I'll have to get some measurements to see if it'll fit my battery.

Pat -- I got mine from King Rat Motorsport -- for whatever reason Saferacer won't ship to Canada (or even accept Canadian inquiries). King Rat didn't "really" want to send it to Canada, either -- but I was able to sweet talk "Kim" into doing it. It arrived, shipped, for just over $60.

I don't understand why some american companies are still like that, all they have to do is fill out a customs invoice once, then cut and paste. Boom, you just increased your sales by 10%.

[schmoo]

I can't wait for this weekend!!!

- First outing of 2011
- Greg's new vette
- Rob's new toy
- Shawn's new beast
- Phil's wrap
- Trish back behind the wheel

and of course...

- The tension of wondering what will rattle off of which car

Who is coming so far?

1) schmoo
2) mrs. schmoo
3) condor888000
4) subaphil
5) sb_600
6) Greg Campbell
7) Zoomiata
8) toysrus?
9) PhilBMe?
10) BMW POWER?
11) XL51?
12) bdog?
13) catana?
14) sfong?
15) DEye?
16) Eyemaster?
17) root_moose?
18) Mrs. Moose?
19) Chris.B?
20) Aero?
21) ?

[Chris.B]

i cant make it Car still has no engine

[bdog]

I'd love to come out but I have a few hurdles.

1. Car is in storage. Picking it up Friday morning. Would like to change the fluids before running it in anger though.
2. I'm on call. Trying to fix/hear anything while there is a drag race down the strip, someone on course and the typical Picton wind.. not good.

It makes me sad

B

[Chris_A]

x2 - Bruce is still in storage and I need to change fluids and such. Mrs. Moose is working Saturday so not likely.

[wing]

Geez guys even I have the car out... got as far as the trailer haha.

[schmoo]

Yeah, why aren't your cars out?

[Greg Campbell]

I can't wait for this weekend!!!
- Greg's new vette

You missed the best part. First run of the day. First run in the car. First cone on the course.... Looped it. 270 degree spin with Phil in the car.

Big smoke, lots of applause.

Awesome... my car spent the rest of the day trying to kill me. "Not now, Kato!!"

...always hiding in a fridge.

[schmoo]

I'm bringing a newb. A youngster from my office is coming in his current gen Civic Si. He figures he'll finish off his snow tires.

[sb_600]

You guys all meet at Bankfield right?

Can I meet you on the way somewhere on the way? it will probably be faster for me to book it down the 7 rather than go back though ottawa... I could always just meet you there too

[schmoo]

Will there be loaner helmets for my newb?

[schmoo]

You guys all meet at Bankfield right?

Can I meet you on the way somewhere on the way? it will probably be faster for me to book it down the 7 rather than go back though ottawa... I could always just meet you there too

Yeah, that's the typical routine. Trying to meet en route has never worked before, but we can try. I like having the truck in convoy, as long as it's behind me.