How far can a car get on a battery charge?
Discussion
I'm going to need all the advice I can get for this one.
My brother is currently driving a Pug 106 1.5d. He was supposed to be departing on a 201mile journey this morning, but his battery light came on last night and hasn't gone off since. It has been diagnosed by a mechanic as a faulty alternator.
I firstly questioned why he hadn't set off anyway, but he claims the mechanic told him he wouldn't get far. Now, I've experienced a snapped alternator cable in my 1.5d and managed 4 days of driving until it finally packed in whilst driving with my headlights on... I know, durrr retard etc...
Since then he has started the car around 4 times and now neither of us are confident he will make it. The main problem being, waiting at the end of his journey is a lovely lady (pics to follow). He cannot get the alternator replaced on such short notice.
Now the only solution I can see is a trip to Halfords to pay way more than he should for a battery charger. If he charges his battery to full overnight I reckon he will make it (where he can charge the battery again once there) and travel back on Monday.
It could be worth mentioning, the car doesn't have power steering, abs or anything you would expect any level of modern car to have so it will only need to power the glow plugs and ecu.
Can he make it? Any other suggestions would also be appreciated.
My brother is currently driving a Pug 106 1.5d. He was supposed to be departing on a 201mile journey this morning, but his battery light came on last night and hasn't gone off since. It has been diagnosed by a mechanic as a faulty alternator.
I firstly questioned why he hadn't set off anyway, but he claims the mechanic told him he wouldn't get far. Now, I've experienced a snapped alternator cable in my 1.5d and managed 4 days of driving until it finally packed in whilst driving with my headlights on... I know, durrr retard etc...
Since then he has started the car around 4 times and now neither of us are confident he will make it. The main problem being, waiting at the end of his journey is a lovely lady (pics to follow). He cannot get the alternator replaced on such short notice.
Now the only solution I can see is a trip to Halfords to pay way more than he should for a battery charger. If he charges his battery to full overnight I reckon he will make it (where he can charge the battery again once there) and travel back on Monday.
It could be worth mentioning, the car doesn't have power steering, abs or anything you would expect any level of modern car to have so it will only need to power the glow plugs and ecu.
Can he make it? Any other suggestions would also be appreciated.
it depends on the car really, if it's petrol then usually you need some battery to run the ecu/fuel pump/pas I managed 4 miles with a fully charged battery to zero charge when my alternator positive lead snapped.
derv as above, well if it's got a mechanical fuel pump and it's got enough juice to operate the starter then not much limitation, as long as it's not dark and people don't mind the lack of indicators/brake lights.
derv as above, well if it's got a mechanical fuel pump and it's got enough juice to operate the starter then not much limitation, as long as it's not dark and people don't mind the lack of indicators/brake lights.
Well a charger kit has now been bought from halfords for £30. The battery is now on charge ready for tomorrow. Nevermind all this speculation we'll do the testing so you don't have to. It could end with a tow from the AA but we'll see.
And for the claims of batterys going dead so quickly, well as posted originally I got 4 days from mine with no alternator belt. I ran about 150miles going to work and back and started the car off key about 4 times!
From the responses I would assume there is a huge difference in power requirements from car to car.
And for the claims of batterys going dead so quickly, well as posted originally I got 4 days from mine with no alternator belt. I ran about 150miles going to work and back and started the car off key about 4 times!
From the responses I would assume there is a huge difference in power requirements from car to car.
otherman said:
doogz said:
The car never runs 'off the alternator' electricity comes from the battery.
No, the alternator generates all the electricity that the car uses. The battery just stores it for a bit. If you disconnect the battery once the car is running it carries on running.Pug 106 1.5d... that's the ridiculously basic one isn't it? It should go a fair distance without an alternator. You need to watch for using electricity though - no radio, no fan, no lights, no wipers. Luckily on that car there won't be anything else robbing electricity that you can't control.
Think of it as training for the future when we have electric cars...
Think of it as training for the future when we have electric cars...
I had this a week or so ago but...
Tell him to un attatch connections from alternator/on battery give them a clean if necessary and tighten them right back up again. Mine wern't dirty but it still sorted it. I did this on recommendation from three friends all of whom tried this before putting in a new alternator (after being told this is what they'd need).
Defenitely worth a try!!
Chris
Tell him to un attatch connections from alternator/on battery give them a clean if necessary and tighten them right back up again. Mine wern't dirty but it still sorted it. I did this on recommendation from three friends all of whom tried this before putting in a new alternator (after being told this is what they'd need).
Defenitely worth a try!!
Chris
the other half's ka had its alternator go - I managed about 20 miles home before it conked out, and had to be recharged using my car (which she was following me home in).
A diesel should go a lot further - there's nothing in a diesel (of that era) that I can think of that should really use power when you're going along - whereas a petrol has the need to generate sparks - a basic derv should be able to carry on much further
still, I'd not try and do 100 miles in one. you should be able to get an alternator in halfords, fitting it is easy. or smack the old one with a lump hammer
A diesel should go a lot further - there's nothing in a diesel (of that era) that I can think of that should really use power when you're going along - whereas a petrol has the need to generate sparks - a basic derv should be able to carry on much further
still, I'd not try and do 100 miles in one. you should be able to get an alternator in halfords, fitting it is easy. or smack the old one with a lump hammer
I had this in a Cavalier 1.7 TD (the one with the old Isuzu engine) - had it has a short term company car - it had done 150k already.
The alternator died but no light came one (just the rev counter failed) so was none the wiser. It did have a new (and pretty huge) battery on it and I drove around in it for well over a week before it failed to crank one morning, and that included a trip from Milton Keynes to Brighton and back. It was the middle of summer, so no light, wipers and the like.
The alternator died but no light came one (just the rev counter failed) so was none the wiser. It did have a new (and pretty huge) battery on it and I drove around in it for well over a week before it failed to crank one morning, and that included a trip from Milton Keynes to Brighton and back. It was the middle of summer, so no light, wipers and the like.
Tried smacking the old one with a hammer but it did no good.
balders118 - Ill try this when he gets back.
He managed the 201 mile trip on one charge
He had to use the windowscreen wipers at one point as the rain was coming down pretty heavy.
Apparently the battery was almost dead when he got there, but its been fully recharged now and the return journey is taking place right now I think :S
Pics? Hows about a video? Would have to be self love mind you, my brother sweating cobs whilst attempting to pleasure a more than likely very uninterested girl wouldn't be great entertainment.
balders118 - Ill try this when he gets back.
He managed the 201 mile trip on one charge
He had to use the windowscreen wipers at one point as the rain was coming down pretty heavy.
Apparently the battery was almost dead when he got there, but its been fully recharged now and the return journey is taking place right now I think :S
Pics? Hows about a video? Would have to be self love mind you, my brother sweating cobs whilst attempting to pleasure a more than likely very uninterested girl wouldn't be great entertainment.
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