I think that driving 10 hours just on the battery might be pushing your luck. But the solution is simple...just find a garage that will charge it before you leave. And halfway, or less, have it charged again. I'm talking daylight driving with nothing on (no radio either). Driving at night on the battery, I usually figure one hour if I'm lucky. Another low tech alternative, buy a spare battery and make sure it's charged full, and switch batteries if the original one gets too low. Usually the engine will start missing when the battery voltage gets low, but the fuel injection needs 9-10volts at a minimum...so when the battery gets that low the engine will shut off and not start. Also, try to avoid turning off the engine since each time you run the starter it will suck a lot of juice from the battery. If you check the brushes, sometimes a brush might be stuck or cocked out of position, or there might be too much dust, so just jiggling it(them) could correct the problem (I'm thinking back to generators and their brushes, I'm not sure if this applies to alternator brushes), but worth a look. jc
----- Original Message ----- From: "David Boan" <dboan@COMCAST.NET> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Friday, August 13, 2010 8:05 PM Subject: Stuck in Council Bluffs IA
> I am on the home stretch of a Chicago to Oregon and back to Chicago trip, > when the battery and OCS lights came on in Council Bluffs. It was already > evening, so stopped at closest motel. The belt is OK, and everything is > running OK, but I know the light means the alternator output is low, so not > sure it will carry me the last 10 hours to home. > > > > Does anyone know a repair place in Omaha or Council Bluffs that is likely to > be open on Saturday morning? Am I right that it probably will not go > another 10 hours? > > > > Thanks > > > > Dave Boan > > Wheaton, IL > > '85 Westy > |
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