So, I don't know if I am in the right place to ask this question. But, I will just to see what happens. I just bought a diesel van (to convert to veggie fuel soon) and I am having trouble. I like to fix my own shit - it's knowing what to fix that I am totally ignorant about. I was driving down da road last night and after having to jump the thing twice, I lost all my lights and power (the thing still ran until I turned it off again). I had to drive home in the dark, very cautiously I might add and chanting protection mantras the whole way (you are snickering I can already hear it - what that's not the way you drive your car in the dark at night with no lights?). Anyway, the person I bought it from said it needed a new alternator belt - would that little thing cause such trouble or should I look elsewhere? It has a new alternator by the way...
Thanks for your thoughts on this.
Peace,
Inanna
Thanks for your thoughts on this.
Peace,
Inanna
posted by:
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Portland
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Re: I like wrenches - but what to wrench on?
Wed, May 24, 2006 - 4:07 PMWell if the belt was broke, the alternator can't charge/recharge the battery and it will go dead like happened to you. so yea it can.
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Re: I like wrenches - but what to wrench on?
Tue, May 30, 2006 - 6:38 PMIf the alternator belt were old, it could be slipping causing it not to charge. Look at the belt and check for cracks, see if you can scrape any of the rubber off with your fingernail.
If it has cracks, it should be replaced, and is a likely culpret. If you can scrape rubber off with your fingernail, it's evil and needs to be buried.
And yeah, the symptoms you are describing are exactly what happens if you have a charging problem, just about always caused by a bad alternator or slipping belt.
-Dirk R
