Date:         Sun, 15 Aug 2010 02:32:16 -0700
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Stuck in Council Bluffs IA
Comments: To: jbclem <jbclem1@CHARTER.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

it does apply to alternator brushes.
sometimes you can tweak on those and get them to work again for a bit.

an new or good used alternator Voltage Regulator/brush package  gizmo is
another one of those vanagon parts that's not too expensive, doesn't take up
much room, and isn't heavy
and can keep you going sometimes...
and is very worth keeping in an onboard backup parts stash for trips, or
even kept  full time in the van for local self-rescues.

----- Original Message -----
From: "jbclem" <jbclem1@CHARTER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2010 1:57 AM
Subject: Re: Stuck in Council Bluffs IA


>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
>>