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Replacement of the cable helps a little bit. However, for the starting issue when engine hot, replacing the starter is the key element! Starter can be had from O'Reilly for about $150. Replacing the starter is a lot easier than the cable (no need to crawl under the car).
I have always wondered how Porsche would not catch such a limitation (starting when engine hot) during their testing of the 997.1 prototypes. Or maybe, Bosch delivered a batch of really lousy parts at one point or another.
Yves
I can't speak on the 997 starters by you just reminded me of the Bosch units on the air-cooled Porsches. Basically, the starter would just 'cook' overtime from use and heat. From thereon, the car wouldn't start when hot
The lightweight aftermarket unit I bought from PelicanParts solved the issue almost forever.
Yea... don't buy one! Go on amazon, and for $40 more dollars, you can buy an OEM 100% NEW Bosch starter.
I buy stuff at oreilys for some of my companies trucks,etc, and their starter is made by one of their companies.
I asked the manager...how are they? he said.... "we get one back once in a while that goes bad after a while under warranty".
When your starter sits right on top of your engine, and its not friendly to drop off/out the powerplant.... worst thing to do imo, is skimp on an unknown brand.
Any comments on the quality of the O'Reilly brand (Ultima) starter?
The O'reilly is in fact a Bosch re-manufactured starter. It clearly has BOSCH engraved all over the places. The connectors are angled slightly differently, but it does not present any problems to connect the cables.
I changed mine over Christmas and it is still perking.
When your starter sits right on top of your engine, and its not friendly to drop off/out the powerplant.... worst thing to do imo, is skimp on an unknown brand.
Lots of urban legends here......
And the starter can be removed without dropping the power plant.
And the starter can be removed without dropping the power plant.
Yves
I think what Patrick meant was it is much much harder to remove/replace/check a Porsche starter "relative" to a truck's starter, a Toyota starter, a Porsche SC starter, etc.
Let's face it....we do have a lot to remove just to reach into the 997 starter.
Thanks to you and Equinox for detailed write up. Could not have done it without your pix. My cable was smoked and I'm surprised it made it 9 years. This was not a trivial task. I understand why Porsche charges 1K for this. Took me the better pert of a day to change out this stinkin cable.
Also wanted to mention that I tried using my wife's soft PJs for keeping the hood from closing. She put a Terry towel in there and pulled her pjs out. 17 years married and she's on to my tricks. It was a valiant effort though.
OP, just wanted to thank you for this post which was just super! I had read it so many times before my cable came in that I just jumped right in.
Totally bust up cable
This is by no means an easy job especially for a big chap with big hands, I had to call on a smaller chap to crawl under the car and wiggle out the cable. A very good idea to tie a rope to the starter end of the cable and use it to guide the new cable back up.
I couldn't reach the long bolt to remove the compressor, but luckily the cable came off quite easy, well new cable in!
Im no mechanic but with help from you guys managed to replace this infamous cable myself on my 2007 911 4s with x51 power pack upgrade. All running well following a start stop trip today 😎👍
Anyone know the part number for this alternator cable? My stepfathers car's starter is on its way out along with this cable I am sure. It is getting very hard to start it on hot starts and the starter is making noise on startup. I ordered a new starter, figured I would do the cable at the same time. Just need the part # for updated cable
