Driving with a bad alternator....

[Alps]

Not mine this time (phew), but my dad came up to visit me in his 51 plate Pug 307 HDI over the weekend, and his alternator is fried (can smell it) a warning flashed up and went on the dash, tested it and battary is showing 12.5v (on or off), so its defo gone.

now he has to drive back some 50 odd miles, do you think the car will make it back without breaking down?

problem is that his RAC cover does not have recovery, so max 25 miles away from his house he can call them out, so its realistically got to go 25 miles, all on a A road. and in the daytime.

I said id go with him just in case it broke down to help!

wadya think?

 

[EDZ649]

Yeah, I would think it would make it as long as you turn off everything electrical you can, even the radio. Do it in daylight so you don't have to use the lights.

Have you got a spare battery you can take with you aswell?

 

[Alps]

done it, just got back, 60 miles later, minimal traffic, alternator seized on the way and ripped apart the fan belt...phew...

 

[EDZ649]

Nice one!