Ah, I don't worry about it anymore. I'm just glad I still have friends that will show up to help...
I lost an alternator about a month ago. With the fuel injection and the higher pressure fuel pump I draw a lot of current from that little battery in the trunk. Fortunately it was a cool day and I could get by with out the fan running, plus the trip home was mostly down hill.
I made it about halfway home when the engine died. I was about 15 miles out of the city. Called a few friends until I found one to come up and charge my battery. After 30 minutes I had enough "juice" to make it home. I run the highest current alternator that I could find that fits the FE, 65 amp.
When I bought a replacement I kept the core and took it the old one down to an alternator shop. The wires to the rectifiers had fried. I had it rebuilt with 50 amp diodes that should do better, I hope...
It was funny, while I was waiting for a jump a neighbor road by on a bicycle. Small world.... If I would have known that I was going to be out longer than anticipated I would have put on sun screen...
