Not a good day. What appeared to be a simple flat tire on the left rear, turned out to be much more. Here I am, cruising along about 60 and I hear what sounds like I'm going over serations on the shoulder. About a mile later, I hear flapping, indicating something's come loose and/or a flat tire. Sure enough, I stop and I hear a loud hissing sound and the tire going down fast. Quickly, I zip into a State highway maintenance facility, so I'm off the road and I can change I tire if I need to.
Fortunately, I was with the mayor of the city, we called a city car to get us to a meeting and I left the car there. When I came back, they changed the tire and I fired up the car to leave, but heard a strange metallic sound, much like something was rubbing on a pully. And, as I was driving, every now and then, there would be an ever-so-slight reduction in power, then the engine would pick up again.
All was normal, until I stopped for gas. I shut the car off and noticed that the radio and lights were still on, despite the fact that I removed the ignition key. Hmmm. So, I restarted the car (didn't want to be stuck at a tollway oasis gas station 60 miles from home), and heard that muted metallic scraping sound again.
So, I start heading home, not going too fast - 70 mph or below, since I have one of those "space saver" spares on the right rear.
Enroute, from time-to-time, I start seeing almost all of the instrument warning lights illuminate momentarily and then extinguish. I also noticed that the temperature gauge is not working. The instrument lights start flickering on and off with greater frequency, as I keep on.
About 49 miles later, the engine loses power and starts bucking. I pull over to the side and try to keep the engine going, but it stops. Despite the ignition being turned off the radio and lights remain on. I start the engine again and it bucks and misses, then comes right back to normal power.
Now, I'm beginning to smell an alarming smell; kind of an acrid, almost sufuric acid smell. I keep going, as I'm only 10 miles from home, by now.
There's less bucking and heaving after I get off the expressway, but I'm still worried. Finally, I arrive at home, convinced I have a severe electrical problem.
I pull into the driveway, get out the tools and remove the positive battery cable from the battery. As I retrieve my items from the car, my flashlight beam cuts a swath through what is now a slightly smoke filled interior, which smells like a cross between a severe new car smell and boiling battery.
I'm not in a good mood. What gives?