PrinciPorsche

The rebuild included a new regulator.

They gave me the option of trouble shooting and fixing the problem, or doing a complete rebuild for about $70 more. I just had them do a complete rebuild. In situations like puling the alternator, I put on the mechnic gloves... my knuckles are intact :)

The guys at North Main Auto Electric just shook their heads when I told them some of the other options and related prices. And it was nice of them to not jack up the price when my dad blurted out it was for a Porsche. :P

Do yo know if they changed out the rectifier as well?

Alternator's in, it's working like a charm.

Lessons learned for anyone else doing this:

1) The rear bushing on passenger-side of the alternator was really tight. Some people were able to tap it back with the bolt after 5 turns, but it didn't work for me. Use lots of lube and place downward pressure on the tab while wiggle the alternator. Before putting it back in, I ground the surface down a few thousandths to make the install a little easier.

2) Before shelling out $400 for a rebuilt alternator, contact your local independent auto electric shop. My shop charged me $195 after taxes to rebuild my alternator and had it ready the same day.

Cheers,

Joe

Good info, Joe.

What exactly was wrong with the unit?

I know what you mean about the bushing...scraped knuckles...ouch.

The voltmeter was reading about 11.5V

Going through the same thing.

The charging voltage is supposed to be in the range of 13-14.5V.

So, if you've tested across the battery terminals with the engine running, I think it's safe to say the alternator is not charging.

Question, of course, is "why"?

I'm going to have a look at the alternator connections as I was doing a search and one member had a loose ground clonnection. I'm hoping it's something simple as I have other issues to contend with.

Hope this helps a bit...

all these noises are normal when the car is cold or have some days to start. why you worry about put a new starter on your cars when the old one is off?

all starters be can repaired at least 1 time by a good electrician mechanic

What do they do and does it cost that much less than a new or rebuilt unit?

Ok after procrastinating for a long time I have decided to go hunting for the elephant. I ordered a re manufactured starter for 154 usd. I will be doing the repair myself and I will advise if Dumbo is out of my car. Stay tuned.

I hope you, oh great hunter, have a memory like your prey and indeed do not forget to post your progress!

Where did you buy your starter? Not a bad price.

Does anybody have any experience of this installation on an S?

There's already a difference in feel between the 5 and 6 speeds.

I'm wondering perhaps if the biggest difference in feel would be in the base Boxster tranny?

Also, it is usually the oil that gets into the water since it is under higher pressure and you see it floating on top of the radiator.

So, is this the sign of a blown head gasket? It could pertain to another vehicle I have...

Turn up the stereo, roll down the window.

You're probably right ;)

The clutch pedal switch is irritating me, it clicks everytime you depress the pedal, and unlike on my first boxster where you could zip-tie it and shut it up, the one on my 03 996 is "reversed", in that it needs to be "extended" to let the car start, not compressed. So the zip tie is not an option.

The dealer kinda ignored me when I asked if I could bypass it, so I'm asking you guys ;-) Can I remove that switch and reconnect the wires so that the computer thinks the pedal is depressed and lets the car start ? Does this switch have any other purpose ? Is there another way to make this "click" go away ? (it's not broken, but I can hear it all the time). I've searched, I can't believe I am the only one anal enough to be annoyed by this noise. Maybe I need louder exhausts !!

Any other purpose?

I've got a 986 and oddly enough, I was going to post to ask why, when the clutch is depressed, the rpms go up about 50 rpm and when released, rpms go down. So, I think it serves a purpose, but why is this necessary?

I can use a zip tie on mine?

How big is the standard Bose sub?

i'm going to estimate that it's 10" wide and 4" high (the speaker). it fits in the section under the rollbar (where the storage shelf is) and it doesn't take up the whole length of the rear shelf, just the middle part. i don't know how deep it is...

but i hope Thomas will post back to tell us how it sounds.

FYI.. There are two 5.25" subs (more like mid bass drivers then woofers) along with two 1" tweeters. Spend the money on something else. I loaded the factory bose box with 5.25" FOCAL components. Is like night and day.

Joe

How much did the Focals cost?

I'm new, so I haven't seen the extent of the board quite yet, but yes, just helpful sorts with no attitude.

Refreshing!

Take your battery in and have it tested, but make sure it is charged first.

Probably the best advise.

Many many thanks guys, you've been really helpful, i'll get the battery checked tomorrow and if not start removing fuses. ill be sure to let everyone know what the result is as it may help someone out in the future :clapping: :clapping:

Yes, please do keep us posted. Nothing worse than being left hanging By a thread) :jump:;) !

while depressing or releasing the clutch (5 speed with 68K) it's really starting to creek at the pivot of the clutch.

does it just need grease, a worn bushing or is there something out of tolerance?

if it just needs grease...just a low temp lithum do the job?

Shawn

Believe it or not, owing to the fact that I couldn't contort myself to get a visual in a cluttered garage, I blindly sprayed some WD 40 in the general vicinity of the pivot- voila`, noise gone- good as old.

Go ahead, close your eyes and take a shot!

Good luck.

Hey I'm all about the blind squirrel finding a nut from time to time!

Will give it shot. If i could fit under there to do the ignition switch I'm sure I can find the pivot point!

Any the noise has been gone for how long?

The noise has been gone for a week. Oddly enough, our cars have about the same mileage, so I suspect it's the same problem- hopefully as simple for you as it was for me.

Good luck :thumbup:

I know it doesn't add anything to the discussion, but this topic makes me glad I held out for the Bose system. Enter all negative Bose comments here:

just because his 'installer' doesn't know how to install speakers doesn't mean that Bose is better! ;)

seriously, if he skipped the trip to the installer and just plugged it into the radio, none of this would have happened.

i have a friend that works at Bose and even *he* thinks that they have a 'good' product and an EXCELLENT marketing department! :notworthy:

i have heard that the Bose system is really expensive. did you pick yours up after you bought the car (i.e. not delivered installed from the factory?) what did it cost (if you don't mind?)

i put together a pretty decent system: Nakamichi CD-500 HU, MB Quart dash/door speakers, Pioneer TSA878 rear speakers (these speakers had better freq response than most of the so-called 'higher-end' speakers), and a Kenwood KSC-SW1 slimline subwoofer (hasn't arrived yet.) total cost was $500+40+70+50+140 = $720. i would still like to upgrade the factory amp, which i will do in the spring. just wondering how that cost compares to the Bose system. ?

I've done my share of upgrades over the years and the thread reminded me of the mega challenges some installations have posed before getting it "right".

My system came with the car and, quite truthfully, it's not as if we have to be too concerned with filling a huge volume with sound. This has in the past always been my challenge (much bigger cars). That being said, I'm sure there's a vast array of excellent products out there that rival the performance of the Bose. Again, I'm just happy I didn't have to do anything this time around.

On another note (pun intended), I'm just hoping I don't experience the same problems with the amps in my Vette's stock Bose system that led me to replace the whole thing owing to the high price in getting the amps replaced!

How big is the standard Bose sub?

I know it doesn't add anything to the discussion, but this topic makes me glad I held out for the Bose system. Enter all negative Bose comments here:

while depressing or releasing the clutch (5 speed with 68K) it's really starting to creek at the pivot of the clutch.

does it just need grease, a worn bushing or is there something out of tolerance?

if it just needs grease...just a low temp lithum do the job?

Shawn

Believe it or not, owing to the fact that I couldn't contort myself to get a visual in a cluttered garage, I blindly sprayed some WD 40 in the general vicinity of the pivot- voila`, noise gone- good as old.

Go ahead, close your eyes and take a shot!

Good luck.

New to forums. Good to be here.

Any update on this? Unless it was an eleephant, of course. :-)