We made the move from Cincinnati to Houston with only one hitch --  the
alternator went down hard and fast just west of Nashville.  Lynn was driving
at the time and the battery light came on ("Dear, is this a bad thing?").  I
changed channels on the Digitool and noted the voltage was at 11.50 and
falling rapidly.  We pulled into a gas station and asked for directions to a
FLAPS.  With the Digitool showing 9.0, to restart the van I had to jump from
the auxiliary battery and kept the jumper cables attached so the wipers would
run (the gas and water temp guages were way down as well).  Eight miles later
we rolled into the Autozone in Dickson, Tenessee and the true miracle
occured.  They actually had a rebuilt alternator for the van!!!  For some
reason completely unknown to me I had thrown a air of heavy Wells-Lamont work
gloves in the tool bag before we left -- boy did they come in handy.  The
rain stopped while I sweated away over the hot engine and the Autozone guys
let me use their head to clean up.  In less than two hours from the time we
pulled off I-40 we were hitting the road again with the rebuilt alternator
and a couple of new belts just for good measure.  I know the Autozone
rebuilts aren't all that great but it got us to Texas just fine and there is
a warranty -- I'll find out how good that is when I need to replace it.

If the air conditioner worked the trip would have been more pleasant.  All we
got was a lot of noise and some slightly less hot air.  Guess I'll have that
checked out soon.  Anybody have any luck with one of those conversion kits
that are popping up in FLAPS?

Chuck
'85 Wolfsburg Weekender 'Roland'