can a series 3 run short term without an alternator

I am looking at buying a series 3 as my very first Landy I have located a barn find and am hoping to learn as I go along , the Landy doesn't have an alternator , can I at least start it with a battery pack to see how it sounds , if I can could I drive it approx 50 miles on a full charge . here's hoping

thanks

what engine? petrol or diesel? 2.25?

you can start it and drive. not sure how long a petrol will last, a diesel should be fine once it's going.

obv, do it in the daylight and don't turn any leccy on... all on private roads i assume.

What about the water pump? If the alternator isn't there, then what drives the pump?

Ian46 said:

What about the water pump? If the alternator isn't there, then what drives the pump?

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good point! make sure you have a belt of the right size you can slip over to an least run the pump. or just by an alt and belt before you go, you'll need one anyway. takes 15 - 30 mins to fit.

Yeah its diesel , I will need to get it delivered on back of pickup however I didn't want to get it back and it not fire up , I will need it taxing and an mot so not wanting to spend too much , seller wants 1000 for it so I'd be taking a chance, it a T reg 68000 on clock

Difficult to say without pix but £1k seems a bit high for an s3 barn find

btw I am sure my diesel s3 has a plate saying do not run engine without battery connected, its pitch black here now so I ain't going out to have a look to confirm that


although now I have said that I can't see why I thought it was relevant

You don't run without a battery connected 'cos it can damage the regulator - which you haven't got as it's in the alternator. The only problem I see is there's no way of fitting and tensioning a fanbelt without the alternator - it's got the adjustment in the mounting. Can you steal/borrow a suitable alternator - you should be able to get one from most scrappies, it's a Lucas fitted to a lot of UK built cars.

For what you want to do a pair of tights tied around water pump and crank pulley should run the water pump.Used to be the emergency get you home years ago.Long Bungee with the hooks removed would probably also do it.
Or one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EMERGENCY...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item20f1dbc278

Before you connect a battery, wrap the connector to the alternator with some electrical tape - the main terminal is unfused and permanently live between battery +ve and alternator, and if it contacts an earth you're going to make a mess of the loom.

if you only want to fire it up to listen to it prior to buying, it will be ok to run it for a few minutes

I've heard Running a diesel for any length of time without the water pump going can end up in damaging the injectors

As said you do need a fan belt for the water pump - they really don't take long to fit...

If the alternators not working (check wiring for obvious problems it may juts be a crap connection) then once its started you can drive a long way if the battery is good. But take a new battery as the one on there is probably knackered.

You can do a long way with no alternator in a diesel - so long as it doesn't get dark. headlights will soon drain a battery.

Please don't drive it without an MOT on the road, there are enough untaxed, uninsured nobheads out there - even if it's MOT exempt its silly to risk other peoples wallets and lives without giving it a proper check over. If you have a crash you will not be insured.