When my alternator went i drove fro at least 3 hours and could have driven
longer (it did'nt die just failed to start).  This is with an 8 month old
battery and no accessories.  I suppose then having a fully charger full
size aux battery could get you about 3 hours driving time w/ no
accesories.  If its hot pulling the radiator fan fuse might not be such a
bad idea (assuming you watch the gauge carefully).  This is one situation
where having a real voltmeter gauge could be a big advantage as opposed to
the trouble light.  When mine failed i connectd my multimeter to the
battery so i could monitor what the alternator was doing.

THanks for all the info!
Andrew Fox
96 Westy
Ft. Collins CO
www2.hawaii.edu/~andrewf/vanagon/links.htm

On Sun, 4 Nov 2001, Vanagon Man wrote:

> About 20 years ago, i was coming back to NC from Chicago, when in the middle
> of the night my alternator went out just outside of
> Cincinnati...........made it to a gas station with no lights, etc., had them
> charge the battery, and camped outside the FLAPS.  When the flaps opened,
> they wanted $125 for an alternator (too young to know about brush
> replacement back then) and I just did not have that kind of money.
>
> So, I pulled all my fuses except the engine ones, and drove from Cincinnati
> to Knoxville........charged the battery there and made it home........
>
> Useful info for when emergencies such as this arise......
>
> Adam P
> 81 westy (3 of them)
> 74 beetle
> 73 Transporter (at paint shop!)
> 70 Single Cab  "Whitey"
> Vanagon Partsmobiles
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael Moery" <mikemoery@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2001 7:42 PM
> Subject: Re: can vanagon run w/out alternator?
>
>
> Vanagons, like most all modern vehicles, need electricity to run.  When
> the alternator quits, the engine will run off the battery for quite a
> while, as long as all the accessories are off, especially the
> headlights.  While it takes just a small current to power the ignition
> system, the starter is another matter, as you discovered.  It takes a
> lot of amperage to start.
> Diesels, on the other hand need only enough power to energize the fuel
> solenoid, so they can run without an alternator for a very long time.
> Same problem with starting though.
>
> Mike Moery, Anchorage, AK
> ----------------
> ||E[__] [__]|[_]\\
> | =======| - ||
> * * * =( o )--------( o )=
> =='Ol Bessie  '82TD Westy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Andrew M Fox
> Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2001 2:43 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: can vanagon run w/out alternator?
>
> My question is if the alternator fails on a vanagon can you keep the
> engine running assuming you don't need headlights or any other
> accesories?
> I know that on some cars the EFI uses electricity so if the alternator
> goes you have a limited amount of time before there is'nt enough
> electricity to to run these critical engine electrical systms.  If you
> can't run the engine without proper voltage does anyone know what the
> electrical draw is of the vanagon engine, ie how long can you go before
> having to get a tow or switch to your alternate battery (if you have
> one).  Recently on a long trip my alternator stopped working.  I was
> able
> to drive but when i stopped for gas and tried to start it again there
> was'nt enough juice for the starter.  I used my auxillary battery to
> jumpstart the van and was on my way.
>
> Thanks,
> Andrew Fox
> 86 Westy
> Ft. Collins CO
>