How far do you think you could drive in a TDi with no alternator?

marlot

attila_ wrote: »

The spark energy does not require a battert. Look at lawnmowers, go karts, old motorbikes.

Google magneto to find out where the electrical energy for the spark comes from. The electricity has to come from somewhere - a magneto, a dynamo an alternator or a battery!

mcjordi

my fan belt snapped on my xsara diesel a few weeks back.. it drove home fine oh it was fun trying to steer the !!!!!! with no power steering

drove about 10 miles home and left it outside till i could get a new belt and alternator (as it broke it too) fitted.. started fine after 3 days standing..

bigjl

Kilty wrote: »

It's a very common problem on the 1.9 CDTI but I was under the impression it was a recovery job :eek:

No, battery light will come on but you can still drive it a fair distance, bear in mind the one's I have driven with a broken alternator have been fitted with computer based MDT, touchscreen, VDO Dayton SatNav and a charger for the suction and the LP12/LP15 whichever is fitted. Also they have a computerised split charging system. As some systems run of a batery placed in the boot, I think the only thing that runs off the main battery as far as I know are the vehicle based systems, however I don't know wether the rear battery can transfer its charge to the main battery to keep it going? I would doubt it. The 55 plate Zafiras only had the vehicle battery, but weren't affected as badly by the alternator issues like those with two batteries, 56 and 57 plate.

Perhaps the split charging system worked the alternator too hard or perhaps it is being made to work at near full capacity. I do know it was Vauxhall that said we couldn't upgrade the alternator.

The only precaution I took was disconnect the suction and LP12/LP15.

The car drove normally.

Note I am talking about a failure when the battery light comes on, not a snapped multibelt as on the Sprinter.

thescouselander

Just have a think about the devices running in the car:


Fuel Pump
ECU with injectors etc
Lights
Instruments
Radio (maybe)
Air bag system
Cooling fans (engine bay)
Interior fan
Other devices depending on model and what's switched on


I reckon you'll be drawing about 20-30A so with an average sized battery you might get 2 or 3 hours - maybe you could get a bit more if you turn everything off.