AboutErnest (Ernie) Kenward Expertise The challenges I most enjoy are thoughtful technical questions of a trouble-shooting nature in both electrical, power electronic and mechanical systems, mainly automotive but also machine control and small-machine PLC applications.
Please note, however, that I am NOT a walking shop manual for every car in existence! While I have been described by colleagues and students as having an encyclopedic knowledge of automotive and transportation equipment in general, I do NOT have a collection of shop manuals and detailed specifications for every vehicle in existence! What I DO have is a good collection of literature and hands-on experience with 1950s to 1980's Ford products (plus a developing database of information and practice with the Mercedes diesel cars), along with an engineering perspective and the ability to design and implement custom control, electrical and mechanical subsystems for vehicles. For that reason, I am happy to make my thoughts and efforts available to those who are similarly making a point of learning about their vehicles. In regard to manuals and specifications, your automotive parts shop, automotive parts houses and, often, the public library are good resources for these.
I also have a good track record for trouble-shooting and solving emissions problems in older carbureted vehicles. Doing the latter requires that one has the interest and makes the effort to learn how combustion systems are intended to work and can appreciate how the various systems and settings interrelate - there are no short cuts nor "quick fixes" here; this is a job definitely doing properly and with one's eyes open, as the payoff is not only an honest pass of an emissions test, but an engine which will perform with its intended power, economy and reliability!
Experience One of my key skills both in my work and in my hobby pursuits is STRATEGIC TROUBLESHOOTING. In addition to having been the Power and Driveline resource on the Edsel Owners' Club "E-Team" for the past several years, I am a senior instructor in the School of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. My main area is Electrical Power and Industrial Control (including PLC applications and programming), and I round this out with course development and teaching of courses in electrical and electronics design and manufacturing, and in AutoCAD and electrically related CAD/CAE software.
From the hobby perspective, I do automotive restoration of all aspects of automotive systems (1959 Edsel Corsair since 1972 and 1978 Ford E250 van since 1985), class-B motorhome conversion (my reason for reworking an E250) and electrical and mechanical custom upgrades as viable ideas and opportunities present themselves. I have designed and produced custom circuit boards to bring back or add features to vehicles when no new parts were obtainable or where a better specification or operation could be had using a more modern circuit. I designed, installed and continue to revise a custom electrical system for my E250 motorhome conversion and, since 2002, this has been managed by an onboard industrial PLC (programmable controller) which has made many revisions since as easy as plugging in my ThinkPad and uploading new firmware.
I am also remanufacturing a sixties-vintage travel trailer, and am using a Moeller 620 mini-PLC in that application as a battery manager.
Also keen on vintage cameras, telecommunications equipment, railway passenger equipment and locomotive technology, fusion cuisine and renaissance music and chorale activities.
Current project - and the one which drew me to this website - is my "new" but very nice Mercedes 300CD, one which developed a minor vacuum problem ... I do not have a shop manual for it yet, so thought I would pose a question ... thanks!
Organizations IEEE - senior member ... WCC Student Activities chair 1985 - 87
SME - senior member ... greater Vancouver chapter chair 1988-89
Edsel Owners' Club - have served in various capacities on chapter executive during earlier years
Education/Credentials B Sc in Physics, UBC
Awards and Honors Certificates of appreciation from both IEEE and SME for work in student and chapter activities
Question I just had to replace my alternator, and in the process had to change my battery, but I am now getting a whistling noise from the engine, and randomly my battery indicator will go all the way down and the car acts like its not getting enough power or any at all, its acting like the alternator is not recharging the battery. Any thoughts? Thank you.
Answer One would prefer to be on the scene in order to sample enough detail to be able to make better than a stab in the near dark ... however, a "whistling noise" could suggest the howl of an alternator loaded to the point of supplying excess current, most likely to a short circuit. The apparent lack of current to the battery or to the overall vehicle electrical system would appear to corroborate that assessment.
Is it possible that the positive terminal insulator may have been cracked while tightening the nut securing the positive bus lead? Alternatively, was there pre-existing damage to the bus itself that was not seen and hence not repaired prior to replacing the alternator and battery? Given that you have just had to replace an alternator (and, one wonders, a collaterally damaged battery), one is inclined to wonder about the immediate history of this problem.
You would best do a complete trace and verification of the main bus, looking for burned or discoloured insulation, flash burn marks on adjacent chassis metal, and damaged insulators on the alternator, starter contactor, and any terminal or fuse blocks. To have the specific detail in hand, it would probably be best to have the vehicle's wiring diagram set.
