Death Valley (STUCK) Help!

[carreradpt]

I'm on a road trip and my alternator I think has gone to hell. How appropriate here. Anyway the local mechanic here has determined that my battery is not taking a charge. It is now on the machine to charge up to 100%. The local guy thinks that I can make it 120 miles to Las Vegas ( Porsche shop) running only on the battery and not using anything but my V1. The Porsche dealer in LV thinks that I'll only make 30 maybe 60 miles. Help!! Should I go for it or just take a tow from here? Pahrump is 60 miles halfway there with towing. The local tow truck just left from here and won't be back until late afternoon. I have AAA plus so 100 miles is almost free. Do you guys think that I can get 120 miles pretty much a high speed run?

[KevinP73]

Why not buy a second battery just in case the original doesn't make it. You'd think another battery would be cheaper and faster than a tow truck.

[Rot 911]

I concur with the second battery.

[Chuck Moreland]

I had the same problem 300 miles from home on a mother's day sunday. I bought the biggest second battery I could find and headed home.

Fist battery got me about 100 miles. Second battery got me home and never did run dead.

[Chuck Moreland]

You do get a little warning that the battery is almost dead.

While charged the alternator light will glow brightly. When the battery is almost depleted, the alternator light will begin to dim but the car will run another 10 minutes or so. Enough time to pull off the highway and get to a gas station (to recharge the second battery if needed).

[carreradpt]

Thanks for the quick responses. I never thought of that idea about another battery. My cell phone is at home so I am going to ask the visitor ctr to send help if they don't hear from me in a certain time. I'll have to see if they have batteries for sale. Thanks again.

[pwd72s]

Go for the highest CCA number you can find...

[Jim Sims]

I'd check the alternator bearings first, if they're failing you could lose your fan cooling, fan, fan shroud and maybe the engine (from overheating). Pull on the fan with the engine stopped plus listen to it with the engine idling. If it is loose or there is any run out or scraping it's time for a new generator or flatbed wrecker to a repair shop. If you're handy you could do itthere. You could call either Pelican or another vendor and maybe have the parts there by morning. Do you have tools with you? Good luck. Jim

[jabb]

I went about 120 miles on my battery then switched with a buddy that was following me, when we switched my battery still had enough juice to start his 911. Either get a second battery
or one of those Jumper Battery packs they sell at autopart stores find the biggest one they have..... Make sure its charged....

Good Luck

[weber92037]

Second battery and a miniture solar recharger that can be charging as you drive, should you loose the charge on the first battery. Good luck.

[RickC]

Second battery idea is the right one! Worked for me in 1984 with my Fiat 124 Spider. Got me across Kansas and Missouri - then I turned on the headlights at dusk and - well, just get to whereever you're going before dark!!!! Good luck!

[ChrisBennet]

For future reference:
1. Does the heater blower in the engine compartment run all the time (78+ cars)?
2. If it doesn, would pulling the fuse to this blower make sense in a dead alternator emergency?
thanks,
Chris

[kstylianos]

Second battery is the ticket.... make sure they charge the second battery to 100% as well b/c they do discharge as they sit.


BTW: This reminds me of a story. A couple winters ago me and a friend from NJ packed up his van w/ our 2 400CC kawasaki's and headed to FL. to meet his brother and do an Iron Butt ride (1000+ miles on a motorcycle in 24 hours....documented). About 80 miles into our 1000 mile adventure, my battery dies...faulty alt. Between the 3 of us, we swaped batterys every 100 miles (or every gass fill). I unplugged the headlight and bought a 6V lantern and duct-taped it to the top of the handlebars for the rest of ride to save power. By mile 900 or so, my 'friends' just about hated me. Finished mile 1000 in 23 hours, 45 mins.

-Charlie

[Bob's Flat-Six]

Where in Death Valley are you? Furnace Springs? Man that place can be erie almost like your on another planet, at least it's winter. Let us know how you make out
Good luck and God's speed

[diverdan]

Right on responses! Second battery is the insurance. If you can get to a Wahl Mart or Pep Boys you can buy one resonably. I've cruised a long way with inoperative alternators. Recently I left my headlights on for 7 hours and the 88 cab started right up. (Faulty headlight dimmer switch somehow turns on the headlights when left in the left hand turn position with the ignition off.) A good battery can get you a long way! Good luck!

[RichMason]

in my Mercedes diesel - doesn't need juice to run. Of course , once I got off the highway I had to use a flashlight out the sunroof to see where I was going since my headlights did'nt work. Southern Coastal Georgia - darker than any place on earth. By two extra batteries and return the one you don't use, heck you could return both of them once you get to LV if you buy from a major chain.

[Calspeed]

Just in case you decide to go the AAA route. Some of the drivers are pretty cool about the 100 mile thing and will write you two tabs so that you can go straight through. Just make sure to give a good tip.

Calspeed

[john_colasante]

Anybody know how this ended up...

[MotoSook]

he hasn't reposted, so he must be wandering around in the desert or got picked up by a UFO.

[Bob's Flat-Six]

Hmmmmm no response, Where was he headed?, To Sin Town!! ie women, booze, gambling more women. I don't think you would here from me either.