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Alternator or a/c compressor?

Benjs

Benjs

Member
Ever since I've had the targa it been a bit noisy, but having sat in traffic on a sunny day with the lid down I turned off the a/c and the grinding whirring noise stopped. So in my wisdom I assumed a/c compressor was on the way out. BUT having conditioned the battery I noticed a bit more spring in its step and the battery level is now over 14 not slightly under. So have I made an error of judgement and its an alternator needed?
 
If the noise stops when you switch off the AC, then it sounds like the AC system is getting low on gas. They do get noisy when this happens, and I doubt the compressor is on the way out.

I would just keep an eye on the voltage, and only do something if it reads lower than about 13.5 when warmed up, or if it starts struggling to crank, or if the battery drains very quickly when left for a few days,
 
I thought I'd got SVP to check the ac gas but I'm motorway sure. Oh well the not so pricey option of the alternator is maybe out
 
I was meaning as opposed to the ac condenser. I'll check later if it was looked at last time and if not they can look when its in for a service next week.
 
An AC condenser and re-gas would probably still be cheaper than an alternator. Even an exchange alternator from Porsche can be over £850, depending on model. I'll grant that there may be alternatives, but they won't be all that cheap.
 
Good bit of Intel. AudiVW parts of the same era are the same fit. Just checking the alternator but an ac compressor is £130.
 
Porsche Indie July 2014 supply & fit exchange alternator <£300.

I know I have a slight weep on the a/c pipe which runs under the drivers door. I'm advised that replacement is straightforward until the pipe which traverses above the engine also needs replacement which requires dropping the engine (EEK!) - two indies have advised "keep it going until you really want to drop the engine". Surely a simple re-route is feasible?

I too can get a low whirring noise from somewhere within the bowels of the dashboard area which stops when I turn the aircon off. HTH
 
When I had a 996 and suspected the alternator, I too was quoted £800+ exchange from my local PC. I contacted the local auto electrical repairers in Preston (Ribblesdale Autos) and they quoted me approx. £100 for a refurb to include bearings and brushes. As it turned out it was a drive belt roller bearing that cost about £40 and I did it myself.
 
Just to note, I used Mister-Auto who supplied me with a re-conditioned (reconditioned by Bosch themselves) Bosch 150A alternator for my turbo for £280. It came in a Bosch box with all the original Bosch tags and hologram stickers sealing the box and a return docket for UPS who collect your old one and return to Mister-Auto to process the deposit. The reconditioned alternator even had the original Porsche part number on it.
 
Well the good news is it was neither. Unfortunately it was both the condenser radiators and an o ring leaking. On the up side the ac is whisper quite, however as it was service and new Dansk boxes at the same time it now means I can hear myself softly weeping at the wheel!
 
We often forget that the refrigerant also contains an oil to lubricate the compressor's internal components.

Jeff
 
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