karma is a ***** I guess... I just finished commenting on another post about them needing alternator and now this happens.

Took the car out today, and during lunch I noticed my voltage gauge between 12 and 13 volts. So I head back to office.

Finish work and pray that it fixed itself, not....
So now the voltage is at 12V on startup and does not rise, I'm 15 mins from home so I chance it, call the wife to tell her to get ready incase I need her to come get me and to pull her car out of driveway.
As I'm driving home, of course I run into local traffic, so I take the backroads, voltage still dropping now at 11V, i'm trying not to rev it out but avoid using brake and indicators and radio is off.
At under 11V I get the battery warning, them PSM light.. Battery light goes on.
Then ABS, and some other light come on, I'm like 5 mins from home. I keep the revs low and coast as much as possible, until its at 10V, I'm suprised it hasn't died, but I make it home and pull right into garage.
After i shut down try to start and its dead..


SO is there a test to find out if the alternator is shot or just the voltage regulator... Car is an '01 with 38K miles, I know its old but I would think the Alternator lasts longer with relatively low mileage.

 

I would replace the regulator.

 

Most modern car alternators have a built in regulator it's not a separate box

 

Yes I know, the VR is on the back of the alternator...
I know Its coming out, I just want to know if I can test to see if its the VR or whole alternator to replace. The VR is like 40 bucks, a rebuilt Alternator from Pelican is almost $400...

 

As I suggested its usually the regulator and like you said its under 40 and not hard to do.

 

it's sage advice to replace it with a new bosch since often times if you replace the vr the alt ends up falling then you have to go thru the entire process twice. e.g. it's penny wise and pound foolish to pull it and only replace the VR.

the new bosch is like 600 and its an hour of labor to install. save yourself the headache and just replace the whole unit with a new one. NOT a refurb. pelican has i believe the best price on a new bosch

 

Yes, that is what I'm hoping... Just don't want to take it out twice....

 

Buying new would solve that problem but me personally with the miles on your car= replace regulator.

 

i suppose whether or not one could r&r the vr in/out/ on their own then replace the alt once the vr was found not to be the cause ( should that be the case ) would impact heavily on ones decision to try and get away with only replacing the vr.

but if you're taking it to a shop for the repair? just put another alternator in it and be done.

cheap fixes are item dependent, sometimes ya can? other times not, and it might be likened to replacing the accumulator only to find the slave fails shortly thereafter, i believe is an apt analogy, for this situation. if you're gonna pull it yourself? sure check the vr, and maybe you'll get lucky. or not.

 

Yes agree doing it yourself is the key= believe he's a diy guy.

 

Yeah I'm going to attempt to R&R it myself. I dropped my exhaust and replaced all my O2s recently so I think I can tackle this.
Viewing the DIY threads, it looks like the toughest part is wrangling the alt. out after releasing the bolts, anyone have any advice on getting it out (lubricate, leverage angles, etc.,)

I'm thinking to just pull it first and get it bench tested, can they tell where the problem is on the bench.
If not maybe replace the VR and then bench test it again before putting it back?

Thanks for the replies.. Looks like my saturday is gonna be booked...

 

real easy job, 1 hour start to finish
see my post #53 http://rennlist.com/forums/996-turbo...l#post11756785

 

good for you you're dyi'ng it. hope its the vr! gl with it.

 

So good news and bad news

So I pulled out the alternator... I'm actually surprised how relatively simple it is to remove the alternator from a 911 Turbo, My neighbor came out and was like in awe that I was able to work on a high end german sports car, LOL.. hopefully he doesnt start bringing his car over for me to work on..
Anyways, removals wasn't really more than an hr, the DIY threads on the forum helped ALOT!!
However I stripped a screw trying to get the VR out, so I had to cut it and break the old one out.. I think I might have gotten something inside the alt... I've spent 30 minutes shakeing and looking but couldn't find anything to come out ...put the new VR on and here is what it sounds like just spinning the pulley. Does this sound normal to you????

Just finished installing actually, installation took me longer, getting the alt to sit back in its proper spot wasn't as easy as prying it out. Once i got it situated buttoning it back wasn't too bad, except for getting the N75 hose back on to the Intake, the fuel cooler really gets in the way.
Car started right up and is now holding 14 volts but has a loud ticking noise coming from alternator...I ran it for 20 mintues and voltage stayed just below 14 on the dash, but the noise is noticable.... I'm wondering if a piece of plastic is stuck inside.. I have not tried to drive it

 

I'm glad to hear its putting out 14v but the noise isn't normal. Loose plastic may just break up and not be an issue? I'm sure you will get some other opinions that may help.