How long can I run my van without an alternator?

It is if you are in the car maintenance business... (makes up for the engine bays with no serviceable parts in them!)

Define "useable". Yes the brakes will still work on my car with power assistance but they are way way down in stopping power v effort.

I have and the braking effort was nothing like that required in any assisted vehicle I have driven with the assistance off. I agree though that not many people will have driven a vehicle with the power assistance off/failed. It comes as quite a surprise if you don't know how much effort you are going to need. And with brakes the extra effort might not be needed for the first application as there can be enough stored vacum for that one to be more or less normal.

can't think of the term, but the direction of pad movement caused forward wheel movement to presss the pads further into the drum.

childish

If they've got tattoos visible anywhere then they're not posh.

Mmmmm.

Depends what you call posh - round here if the tattoos on the arms are spelt correctly then they are classed as posh.

There was the millionaires daughter that I took to the ballet and at the interval she asked when they were going to sing.

Having loads of money is no indication of being cultured. And vice versa.

There are ballets that contain opera, and operas that contain ballet, so it isn't entirely a dumb question.

It certainly is doable. I had to take the van this morning as the Polo was not big enought for the tools and equipement I needed for work.

I decided to risk using the van. If it fails near home I will get towed home by a mate and if not I have the AA.

An hour and 30 minutes to get home with a 15 minute stop at the wholesalers, the last 45 minutes with the headlights on and a 10 minute stop at the local store for a tin of cat food (the shop was chosen on purpose as it is on a steep hill). The van still fires up OK now I am home.

I have swapped tomorrows shift so that I work 7.30am to 4.00pm instead of

Trust me. She was dumb.

But all their tattoos are visible when they are naked and you are looking at the right place:-)

And I hate a tramp stamp.

you don't get roadworthy braking.

Some of these young people don't know how to double declutch!

Bill

Id challenge ANYONE to drive an XJS with the PA gone on the brakes..I did, but boy there want nearly enough leverage to do more than very modest retardation..

Far worse than non servoed brakes systems of yore.

you don't get roadworthy braking.

With respect brakes with no working servos vary hugely in usability. Some are almost good enough for daily driving, and at the other end of the spectrum some are so ineffective that no sane person would drive it on the road.

NT

Certainly does. When the big red light comes on in a Citroen CX, DS, ID (meaning you are losing hydraulic pressure) you stop ASAP.

Isn't that part of an illegal tackle in Rugby League?

G.Harman

don't get roadworthy braking.

There is a big difference in the braking effort needed on a braking system with servo assist that has failed compared to one that never had it fitted in the first place.

Similarly with power assisted steering, where the rack ratios are radically different to those that are not assisted.

It's *nothing* to do with muscles it's all to do with the fundamental ratios engineered into the respective systems.

The fact it's whining suggests it is creating some output. A red ignition light might be because of a problem in the alternator, such as an o/c diode.

Have you tried putting a DVM on the battery terminals? Anything above

Make that 13.2v.

NT

I forgot the other posh one. The US ambassadors daughter.

I would still marry her.

I bet you were really spoiling her ... with something ;>)

Jim K