Rescued

["media1524" <brentlun@xxxx>]

Hello List Members, 

What a weekend. I went to the DeLorean Mid Atlantic Spring Social 
this weekend and it turned out to be a bit more eventful than I would 
have liked. 

I was driving #17006 to the event. This is the same car I drove to 
two other Mid Atlantic events and 2,000 miles to Memphis and back
with no trouble. 

My girlfriend and I headed out in the rain on Saturday morning and 
about an hour into the trip, the engine died. I pulled over and
tried to restart the car and it started. I'm thinking, "What
just happened? I'll get that checked when we arrive at the
event". I thought maybe rain was shorting something electrical
or maybe my fuel pickup hose was collapsing. I had just had the car 
at P. J. Grady over the winter where Rob performed his 200 point 
checklist. This happened about three more times. About four blocks 
away from the Auto Works in Westwood, the car died and would not 
restart. 

I had printed the last email from Dave Teitelbaum with his cell
number on it so I called him and he said someone would be right out. 
A neighbor offered her porch so we wouldn't have to wait in the
rain. 

Dave arrived with Steve Wagoner and began diagnosing the problem. He 
thought maybe I was out of gas since I did not have a Tankzilla and 
the stock fuel gage is unreliable. The battery was worn down from 
cranking so we jump started the car and it ran so Dave said he would 
follow me to the Auto Works. After another block, the car died
again. Dave was convinced I was out of gas and left to get some. 
While we were waiting, an EMT then a police car stopped to ask if we 
needed help and even put out a road flare. It was then that we 
noticed that we were in front of the Police Station. Dave returned 
with the gas but the car still would not start. More tests revealed 
that the RPM relay had failed. Dave jumped the leads with a paper 
clip and the car started. We limped into the Auto Works and I 
purchased a new one from Rob Grady who was there inspecting cars and 
had one with him. What luck! Rob told me that the RPM relay can
fail without warning. 

For the rest of the weekend and the trip home, the car ran
flawlessly. 

I just wanted to thank Dave and Steve for coming to my rescue in the 
rain. Dave was able to quickly diagnose the problem and get me back 
on the road again. His knowledge of the DeLorean never ceases to 
amaze me. 

Brent Lundgren
York, PA
83 #17006
81 #3049