Cold Weather, dead battery, while I was in there, I found

[COL 911]

This morning after nearly 4 days of sub-freezing temps (hey, it's coastal VA, and I have paid my dues spending many years in a few more northern territories), and about 10 days or more since the last drive, the 87 Carrera wouldn't start. Remove the battery, wash down the compartment with baking soda, etc. prep and paint the worn spots. Run the Duralast battery to the local chain store, put a meter on it and they tell me it's not bad, reading 12, down to 10 under load test, just too weak to handle the cold start, do I have a trickle charger? Yes, and it's juicing up now overnight.

While I'm in there, that front AC condenser motor that I suspected was shot could come out. When I removed it, I noticed a wad of newspaper and feared the rodent infestation I hear about here. Luckily, it was just a wadded up hunk of newsprint (no date or name) that had bound itself up inside the housing. I removed it, hit the shaft with some WD40, and it spun just fine. Amazing how that paper wad could blow up and in that small opening from under the front bumper.

Happy ending will be if battery is salvageable after a night on the charger, AND the AC condenser blower works again.

[mlfox]

Now would be a good time to do the inline fuse modification to the condenser motor if yours is not so equipped.

[porsche930dude]

might want to get a battery tender too. i dont leave mine on but ill throw it on for a day or so every couple of weeks if it hasnt been ran

[teamfee3]

I have AC but have no interest in using it and have taken off much of it.

Can I remove that fan?

My battery died also from the cold and that fan is always a pain in the butt.

[porsche930dude]

yup you can take out the evapoartor under it also. Youll need to make a block off plate with a piece of sheetmetal though

[COL 911]

Thanks, mlfox for the advice on inline fuse mod. I haven't heard of it, but will search and see what's involved.
Team fee, it's easy to remove the AC condenser motor, though I found that you must remove the battery to actually have enough room to manuver the blower assy out of the car once you remove the 4 screws on the bottom flange and the inline harness disconnect. Real easy.