THE OTHER DAY I WAS TAKING A LITTLE ROAD TRIP TO AN AUCTION IN ARTHUR ILLINOIS WHEN ON THE WAY HOME I BEGAN TO LOSE POWER IN MY FORD WINDSTAR VAN .

I HAD JUST GOTTEN ON TO THE INTERSTATE WHEN ALL MY DASH LIGHTS SUDDENLY CAME ON.

I MANAGED TO NURSE MY VAN ALL THE WAY TO THE SOUTH EDGE OF MATTOON ILLINOIS WHERE I FOUND A PLACE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD.

AFTER SEVERAL TRIES AT CALLING THE TOWING COMPANY I FINALLY GAVE UP AND CALLED MY LITTLE SISTER ,SHE SENT HER HUSBAND MY BROTHERNLAW TO PICK US UP (my girl friend was with me).

AFTER GETTING HOME AND SETTING AROUND FOR A WHILE I DECIDED WE WOULD GO TRY AND GET MY VAN BACK.

WE TOOK THE BATTERY CHARGER AND A LONG EXTENSION CORD ALONG ,AFTER FINDING A PLUG AND CHARGING FOR A WHILE  WE MANAGED TO GET THE VAN TO START UP ,WE GOT ONLY A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE VAN STARTED LOSING POWER,AGAIN.

SO I PULLED OVER ,HAD THE GIRLFRIEND PULL ALONG SIDE THE VAN IN HER CAR ,GOT THE OLD JUMPER CABLES OUT AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF JUMPING WE MANAGED TO GET GOING ,AFTER TWO OR THREE MORE JUMPS WE GOT HOME.

FROM THE CONSTANT JUMPING I SURMISED FROM THIS THAT MY ALTERNATOR WAS FAILING.

AFTER A QUICK TEST AND $198.00 DOLLARS LATER I HAD MY NEW ALTERNATOR ,TOOK IT HOME TO INSTALL IT MYSELF.

INSTALLING IT MYSELF TURNED INTO 3 OR 4 HOURS WORK ,BUT AFTER TRIAL AND ERROR I FINALLY MANAGED TO PRY IT INTO PLACE AND GET THE FINAL BOLT BACK IN.

MORAL OF THE STORY ,WHEN YOU SEE THAT LITTLE BATTERY LIGHT COME ON ,EVEN FOR A FEW SECOND, BETTER TURN AROUND AND GO BACK HOME.