So i have been reading a lot about this, my alternator just died so I am looking to replace it. I searched and found some people get the bosch rebuilt unit that is around $350, but I called pep boys and they have a rebuilt one for $150 , I am searching online and see different brands raging from $200 to $500.. what is the difference? Also what are the pros of going 150amp instead of 120amp??

I figured since there are so many threads about this we should just discuss it in one

btw am removing the old one today using the DIY posted here, hopefully everything goes well

 

go to advanced autoparts and get a rebuilt Bosch unit for $400. They will probably have it on the shelf too.

 

Ok but what is the difference between the $400 and the $150 one? I mean if there is no serious difference why pay extra ???

"Btw just noticed the horrible grammar, sorry about that lol"

 

Just took my alternator out a couple nights ago to replace the voltage regulator. Not going to lie, it was a b*tch and took a bit longer than expected. Not all that difficult but more a PITA.

I'd suggest trying a voltage regulator unless you know for certain its the alternator. I was reading below 10V, dropped the new regulator and am back up to 14V or so and good to go.

 

I just took it out. Took me 40 minutes to do it. I ordered it from pep boys as for the price $160 I might as well try it out plus has a life time warranty..

 

I think the tip has the 120 Amp and the 6 speed gets the 150 amp. I don't know why they are different, but they are.

 

mine said 120 on it and my car is 6spd..

 

Ooops... Maybe it was replaced once before... I'm going on what I read here: http://www.autopartsway.ca/PartList..../pagenum1/tabS

 

I got my rebuild AC Delco for about $200 after core. The auto and the 6 spd have different pulleys on them. The 6 spd has a one way clutch on the pulley to protect the alternator from 'shock' from bad shifts.

 

If i remember correctly I read a thread that said it was later 996ts that had the 150 amp alternator. My my05 certainly did (with a 997 part number from new too).

Replacing a 120 with a 150 amp will not cause any problems. The alternator only produces the amount of current necessary to keep the voltage at the right level.
If for example the car is using 70 amps then thats all the alternator will produce, regardless of what size alternator is fitted, however it may be the case that a 996t with all the electric using devices turned on is marginal with a 120 amp alternator (In reality its very unlikely everything will be on at the same time).

In this case the 120 amp alternator wouldn't be able to keep up and the output voltage will start to drop, it would eventually get to the point where the battery is being used to supplement the alternator.The 150 amp would still have some capacity in reserve in this situation.

Maybe this is why Porsche started to fit them,or maybe it was because the 997 was about to come out and it was easier just to fit the 997 part.

And

 

^^ thank u for the great info.

So to update, I went with the pepboys alternator for $160 and it works perfectly
Removed the parts in a little over an hours (thanks to the DIY here)

New alternator

And adding a roof rack

And my dog Joey chilling lol

 

I just had my alt. replaced 700 bucks for parts and labor. (I had a parasitic drain that was pulling 130 milliamps at rest, and it took my mechanic a few hours to find it) Went with 150 amp alt. The advantage of a larger amp alt is if you need more amps for a big stereo syst. Drawbacks are slightly less life, from what I have heard, maybe wrong, but I hear the brushes apply more force and wear a little quicker than less amp alt's.

 

I have to comment... I would have a heart attack if a dog was sitting on my 996TT. I had one jump on my old 911 and it scratched my flawless black hood...I did cry.

 

I do have a large sound system but it seems to work fine. I also replaced the battery which I think had been dying since I got the car and it now feels different..

As for the dog, I am over the whole over protecting my cars, I used to baby my cayman s and I swear that thing got more scratches and dings than my old miata lol so with this car I decided to take it easy and believe it or not after parking in the streets of NYC, valet parkings.. Etc etc it's just like when I got it hahaha Plus that dog is part of the family (I have asked people to leave my house because they did not like the dog jumping on the couch lol)

 

Just keep your dog away from those awesome wheels.