Advice Please (camper broken down)

[Tookey]

Hi,

My wife has just had to leave the camper as its brocken down with a suspected failed alternator. The plan presently is to drive back to it tomorrow with a charged battery and fit that. If it starts ok can I expect the battery to get the camper to our local garage which is approximately a 40 mins drive. It's a 1998 diesel so I suspect little battery power would be used after start up but would still like thoughts.

Thank you

 

[argoose]

A fully charged battery should last the 40 min drive.

 

[st3v3]

Yes, try not to use lights/heater etc.

 

[Tezza33]

I once drove from Scarborough to Barnsley in a petrol car with a failed alternator, luckily I managed to get home just before dusk, you will manage 40 miles

 

[SquirrellCook]

Can’t you connect your habitation battery to the engine battery?

 

[landoboguy]

I drove from southampton QE2 port to Torquay once, battery started to fail just short of killer hill at start of a38 abput 7 miles from Torquay and car started to judder etc, so youll be fine 40 mins

 

[trevskoda]

No prob just start and drive, may just be the regulator on alt or internal brushes, look at it first before throwing money away.

 

[mjvw]

I would go for it as said don't switch on any other electrical equipment, worth checking alternator belt etc as mentioned above it could be an easy fix l'm lucky my habit battery is under the bonnet along side the starter and I have used it to start the motorhome on a number of occasions. Hope you get it sorted.

 

[davep10000]

See PM for tips - bur look for the easiest (and cheapest) things first.
Often too easy to assume its the alternator.

 

[mfw]

I'd stick a jump lead between engine and a decent earthing point and also run a jump lead from battery earth to the engine - because the starter works it is unlikely but could be a bad engine or battery earth

 

[Tookey]

After much battery faffing, voltage testing and earthing looks like it might be the starter so keys have been posted through the letterbox of a nearby mechanics after chatting on the phone.

Thank you all for your help