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
>