How far can I drive my car without an alternator?
- Sunday Dec 6,2009 08:27 AM
- By diddy
- In Others
I just had a new battery installed in my 1999 Volvo S80. That’s when I found out the alternator doesn’t work. How far would I be able to drive without ruining the new battery?
1999 Volvo S80, Car Alternator, Volvo, Volvo S80
8 Comments
The best answer I can give you is this, There is a reserve capacity rating for your battery, the rating is based on a certain amp load for a period of minutes, so the higher the load (lights, radio, power accessories) on the battery the shorter the distance you can drive, typically you would find a 70-80 minute rating, but that all depends on you amp load.
In theory if you are in your hometown you should be able to make it to someplace safe.
It realy depends on how good your battery is! Because with no alternator your running off your battery and you can go until you battery dies. As far as the life of the new battery all it takes in one time and you can run the cells dry and then it’s time to get a new one
Until your battery dies. Not recommended. You also will probably need a new Johnson Rod after driving around without an alternator.
Possibly as far as you can get on a tank of gas, provided you don’t turn stop and off the engine duing the trip. The battery isn’t necessary for driving, just for starting the car and running accessories (radio, lights, windshield wipers). Using the accessories while driving may use up the battery, so if you have far to go, use sparingly.
won’t last for a long trip
alternator was used on running for about 75% of the power while battery will only used 25%, so it means that it’s a team work for this two.
You will be able to tell when everything start shutting down . I don’t recomend this on a new battery cause it won’t be new for long. Best to go to a parts store and get a new alternator. Won’t cost much more than a decent battery and it works alot better
Not very far, depends on how much stuff you have turned on, lights, stero, air cond., etc. If you are away from home very far leave everything off that you can, you just might make it, within a reasonable distance that is.
With lights, aircon and accessories off, usually for about an hour. Could be shorter in city traffic due to frequent braking that turns on the brake lights.
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