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As I was leaving the city one evening, I noticed that the dash idiot lights were glowing faintly and the Digital voltmeter that is plugged into the cigarette lighter was reading 11.5 volts. I live approximately 80 miles from NYC and did not want to leave the car in the city that night. I was 10.00 o'clock at night. Made a brief check under the hood and all looked as it should. I then decided to go for it. The voltage seamed to be holding at 11.5v then sometimes to 11.6v as the rpm's rose, also the idiot dash light were out. I took this as a good sign. About halfway into the trip the voltage started dropping fast. Now it was going to be a race against time. Then I started wondering what was the lowest voltage that the car would still run. The headlights were the first to go. I was traveling on a fast highway heading west. The voltmeter read 7.1 volts, I couldn't believe the car was still running. Then the voltmeter just said LOW with no voltage readings. I know those electric fuel pumps weren't going to last much longer. At approx. 75 miles into the trip the car shut off as I drifted to the side of the highway. I had a friend come pick me up and went back the next day with a fresh battery to get the car home. Put in a used alternator with a new voltage regulator/brush pack and all is good again. I bet if this car had a mechanical fuel pump like my old 122 It would've made it all the way home. Morel of the story: 75 miles and 1.5 hours driving range, at night, just on battery juice. Maybe I'll start to carry the jump-pac in the car from now on. :- )
as ever
peter
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