Dodge Caliber

2007 Dodge Caliber

There is a strange noise coming from the front of the engine on this Dodge.  Sounds like a bearing in an idler on the serpentine belt.  The problem is the noise is intermittent and every time I'm listening the noise is not there.  The noise always happens right after it leaves me.

I removed the belt and spun the idlers and all the accessories and everything seems smooth.  With the belt back on I ran this thing for three hours at varying speeds with ac on and off, and with a load on the engine.  No luck, no noise.

A week later the car owner comes in while the noise is happening.  Woohoo!  Finally I got to hear it.  As soon at the headlights are turned on the noise starts and it sounds like a failed bearing in the generator.  When you shut the engine off and restart it, no noise, until you turn on the lights.

Picked up a generator and changed it out today.  My arms are tired.  The AC compressor has to be removed and the generator then comes out the bottom of the engine compartment.  Without a lift here it was all laying on my back reaching up.  I'm going to sleep good tonight.

Website update

I finally added some photos to my website that I took some time ago.  I didn't take all of them, but you can tell which ones someone else took because I'm in them.  http://tractortech.com/pictures/photos.html  I had a day off today and felt like doing something different.  You can't spend everyday in the shop.

I dusted off my guitar and hope to finally improve my playing.  I always say I'm not a guitar player, I play with a guitar.  Maybe I will finally change that.  I have had a guitar for more than ten years and still get frustrated and walk away for months at a time. If I get better at it I will make a video and upload it to youtube. http://www.youtube.com/user/casemech?feature=mhee

Okay, go look at my pictures and youtube channel.

New WM V sweeper

Do you ever wonder where those tasty almonds in your candy bar come from.  I know, I was in the field when they were harvested.

First a machine grabs the trunk of the tree and shakes it causing all the almonds to fall to the ground.

Next a machine that sweeps them into a pile that can be picked up and loaded into a truck comes in.  That is my part.  I work for a dealer who sells and services sweepers.  It is a dirty dusty job, but some one's got to do it.  And I get to eat almonds all day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vB8rsDn0MM

split melon

This morning I managed to split my head open while crawling under a tractor to check the wiring.  I didn't think it was much more than a bump on the head until driving away from the job site I felt blood running down my head.  I drove home and got doctored up and I went back to work.

Turned out to be a productive day after that.  I tore down a Massey Ferguson 1030 that had an engine miss fire.  Compression on number one cylinder was zero!  I thought my gauge was broken until I removed the cylinder head to find a broken connecting rod on number one piston.  The little three cylinder engine actually ran on two cylinders to get it into the shop. When I drained the oil from the crankcase, I could feel the rod cap laying in the pan with my finger.  I don't know how it didn't get caught by the rotating engine when driving it in.

There is coolant in the oil, and the crankshaft doesn't look too good. 

I don't know yet if I will be able to fix this tractor because of parts availability.  The last one I worked on I had to make some of my own parts and this one is in much worse shape.  Cross my fingers because this would be a good paying job.

monday, monday

Today I worked on the wiring on an old almond sweeper. It went pretty well, but what could go wrong?  Simple boring job really.  I would rather work on something more challenging, but this kind of job pays the bills.