Hi folks,

I was going to take my van to Washington yesterday, but I'm having a problem
- thank goodness my friends in NJ let me take their second car instead!
(and thank goodness I missed the blizzard in NJ)

The symptom is that the engine dies.  This happened in October (when I was
heading out to Westies at Watkins - some might remember that I showed up 12
hours late due to van trouble).  I started to drive, stopped at a stop sign,
and the engine died and wouldn't start again.  In October I had it towed to
the local repair place (which has worked on my van before, they seem to know
what they are doing).  They replaced the alternator.  I drove to Watkins
Glen & back with no trouble.

Since then, the van has mostly been parked in my friends' driveway in NJ -
they haven't been driving it.  In November I came back to NJ from overseas.
Headed out somewhere and the engine died again.  But then five minutes later
restarted,  I drove maybe 50 miles with no trouble.  Then the poor van sat
for another four weeks.  Last week I figured I should check it - took her
out on a short errand, no problems.

Then yesterday morning before heading to DC I figured I'd let her warm up a
bit - she sat running for 5-10 minutes.  Then I got in, was just sitting in
the van and the engine died.  Started up without trouble, so I drove around
the block, but it died again en route - then started up okay.  So I parked
her back in the driveway, dumped my stuff in my friends' car, and headed to
DC.

I'm guessing (based on not much knowledge) either that I need a new battery
or that the alternator they put in is bad.  But are there other problems
that might cause this?  I'm about to go overseas again for another four
weeks, but I'd like to get it fixed before I go.

Suggestions?

Joy