Hey guys, I have a 2008 Ford Escape, the alternator failed on Thursday. Today on my day off I have been unable to locate an alternator in my small town which really sucks because I have no way to travel into the next biggest town (Edmonton, Alberta) to source one out and pick it up. I could buy off of NAPA but they are going to charge me 500 plus for what I need, I could go pull one out of a pick n pull for 40 bucks or I could order one from rock auto for 300ish, obviously I am restricted by travel so I will probably opt into the rock auto.
So here is my conundrum, I have to work on Monday, there is no way I am going to get a part by tomorrow, I have a 20 minute drive to work, I made it to and from work on Friday on just the battery, the ABS lights and stuff started coming on right when I was pulling into my neighborhood so I was wondering if it would be possible without causing damage to my new battery I just bought (yes its a fresh battery put it in about a month ago) to just buy a charging pack and charge my battery 100 percent every night for my commute to work for a week? Until I can receive the alternator. Does this sound like a logic solution? Or just stupidity? Kinda desperate for a solution for my weekly commute haha this is freaking stressing me out.
Thoughts and opinions would be greatly appreciated.
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I once drove for an hour when my alternator belt broke, before the battery died. (1994 Mazda, all lights and electrics turned off, handbrake up one click to turn off the daytime running lights). And that included 2 starts.
So it’s not stupid.
If I were in your situation, I would charge and go. If possible charge again at work.
Charge nightly until you can get the RockAuto alternator swapped.
Bring the charger with you to work as well providing the boss allows it.
if you fully charge the battery and only run your daytime running lights… you should be able to make the 20 minute drive to work…
you will have to recharge at work … and recharge at night…
i can’t tell how much current your car will use each trip…
after the headlights are on for a minute… turn them off…
measure battery voltage…12.65 is a full charge.
12.45 is a 3/4 charge.
12.25 is a half charge…
running the defroster blower or the rear window defroster … even the wipers will discharge your battery faster. .
carry a battery booster pack… you can let it sit on your battery for 10 to 15 minutes to put some charge back in your battery…
heck. i have driven a car a few blocks with a booster pack on it. not one of the compact ones…
I wouldn’t send it. Order from rockauto with the fastest shipping they have. And find a ride to work, or call in sick, or ride a bike. Usually there’s a 2 day shipping option. So the struggle should only be on Monday.