matthewb
New member
Hello chaps
I need some advice, please. How much is a new alternator? Are they recons? Do you part exchange old for new? How difficult / expensive to fit?
The long version ...
My recent posts have described my bad luck over the past weeks - first, I spent a small fortune on wishbones, steering rack, suspension, suspension mounts, wheel refurb, chip, injector clean ..... then, on the way home from having this work done, my windscreen-washer pump failed - and finally, driving home from a long weekend at a spa this afternoon with the wife (chilled and oiled) the ABD, ABS and airbag warning lights appeared. The alternator warning light did not appear to come on.
The brakes seemed fine (though I was only doing 30) so, suspecting an electrical problem, I decided I'd best pull over somewhere qiuet - Bartley Business Park, Hook, just off J5 M3, proved ideal.
I decided to park-up sensibly, turn off the engine, count five and restart. Clunk. And again - Clunk. Next time, no Clunk. Oh dear. The toilet facilities at the nearby Virgin Media's offices and a chance to recharge the wife's mobile (both our mobiles were dead but she at least had a recharger with her) were most appreciated and very useful.
RAC to the rescue. They took 90 minutes to get to us but in fairness (given time of day, location, conditions) that was pretty good. Chappie was great - had worked at OPC in Bristol and knew his stuff especially regarding Porsche 993 electrics. Alternator b***gered. I asked why the alternator warning light hadn't come on and he explained that when an alternator is only slightly b***gered the warning light will come on, but when it's completely and utterly b***gered, you get no, or very dim, warning-light indication (something to do with diodes and a short circuit).
He hooked-up the thickest jumper-cables I've ever seen to a neat adaptor thingy on the front of his van and we charged my battery for 10 minutes or so and then we tried to start the car. Success. Chappie told me to really rev the engine while he watched the avo - no power came through from the alternator and the alternator warning-light now glowed dimly.
He got a battery-booster out of his van, took the suitcase residing in the Porsch'es bonnet back to his cab and hooked things up. The car started and he said he would follow us home to Goring. No main beam. No hot-air blower and no rear-screen heater- terrible condensation. No radio. No ciggy lighter. Phew! With 100m to go, the airbag warning-light came on again and the headlights dimmed. We only just made it.
The battery's now on trickle-charge so I can drive the car over to my indy to get the alternator changed.
Again - how much is a new alternator? Are they recons? Do you part exchange old for new? How difficult / expensive to fit?
Thanks
Matthew
P.S. The wife was great. She put on her cardy and fleece and read her book with good spirit, despite it getting cold and dark. Once it started to get dark I convinced her to put the book down. I tried getting her to play I-Spy. Not keen.
I need some advice, please. How much is a new alternator? Are they recons? Do you part exchange old for new? How difficult / expensive to fit?
The long version ...
My recent posts have described my bad luck over the past weeks - first, I spent a small fortune on wishbones, steering rack, suspension, suspension mounts, wheel refurb, chip, injector clean ..... then, on the way home from having this work done, my windscreen-washer pump failed - and finally, driving home from a long weekend at a spa this afternoon with the wife (chilled and oiled) the ABD, ABS and airbag warning lights appeared. The alternator warning light did not appear to come on.
The brakes seemed fine (though I was only doing 30) so, suspecting an electrical problem, I decided I'd best pull over somewhere qiuet - Bartley Business Park, Hook, just off J5 M3, proved ideal.
I decided to park-up sensibly, turn off the engine, count five and restart. Clunk. And again - Clunk. Next time, no Clunk. Oh dear. The toilet facilities at the nearby Virgin Media's offices and a chance to recharge the wife's mobile (both our mobiles were dead but she at least had a recharger with her) were most appreciated and very useful.
RAC to the rescue. They took 90 minutes to get to us but in fairness (given time of day, location, conditions) that was pretty good. Chappie was great - had worked at OPC in Bristol and knew his stuff especially regarding Porsche 993 electrics. Alternator b***gered. I asked why the alternator warning light hadn't come on and he explained that when an alternator is only slightly b***gered the warning light will come on, but when it's completely and utterly b***gered, you get no, or very dim, warning-light indication (something to do with diodes and a short circuit).
He hooked-up the thickest jumper-cables I've ever seen to a neat adaptor thingy on the front of his van and we charged my battery for 10 minutes or so and then we tried to start the car. Success. Chappie told me to really rev the engine while he watched the avo - no power came through from the alternator and the alternator warning-light now glowed dimly.
He got a battery-booster out of his van, took the suitcase residing in the Porsch'es bonnet back to his cab and hooked things up. The car started and he said he would follow us home to Goring. No main beam. No hot-air blower and no rear-screen heater- terrible condensation. No radio. No ciggy lighter. Phew! With 100m to go, the airbag warning-light came on again and the headlights dimmed. We only just made it.
The battery's now on trickle-charge so I can drive the car over to my indy to get the alternator changed.
Again - how much is a new alternator? Are they recons? Do you part exchange old for new? How difficult / expensive to fit?
Thanks
Matthew
P.S. The wife was great. She put on her cardy and fleece and read her book with good spirit, despite it getting cold and dark. Once it started to get dark I convinced her to put the book down. I tried getting her to play I-Spy. Not keen.