cowling from back of alternator

[Mr.FixitNorm]

I was checking out under the front nearside of my car today to try and establish why my `ice warning' sensor was saying it was 26 deg.C !!! when I spotted two things which gave me more concern than the sensor. The first was the long stabiliser bar mounting bracket which had sheared off at the right angle where it bolts to the chassis, the second was a strange large flexible `heater type' air (?) pipe which was attached to a 60mm plastic pipe which disappeared into the wing behind the wheel arch liner, the other end was attached to a 60mm pipe which turned into a large plastic cowl fitted over the back of the alternator.

The flexible pipe was in a terrible state - split & disintegrated, but I can't fathom what it's for?? I've checked the Official Porsche 944 workshop manual I have in PDF form, and the Haynes manual and I can find no mention or picture of this cowl or pipe system to find out what it is or what it's for.

To cut the story a bit shorter, I removed the front wheel, took off the broken stabiliser bar bracket, cleaned and mig welded it up ( I know I need a new one but the cars a daily driver, my missus was working tonight and I take her to work, and I'm almost certainly going to have to search the net for one ! ), which worked very well.

The flexible pipe I removed was toast and had an internal `cloth? sleeve' which had collapsed so I removed the bits and all I could do was replace it temporarily with a piece of flexible ally pipe which fitted inside the plastic fittings.

Question is, does anyone know what this system does?? I couldn't see what was on the other end of the pipe in the wing and it was getting too dark to take the liner out. I can't think why the back of the alternator needs a piped airflow either.

Any ideas??

Norm

ps never did get to sort out the ice warning sensor[8|]

 

[tr7v8]

It is an alternator cooling shroud, presumably for cooling the alternator after starting it with a flat battery at midday in the arizona desert. Not seen one on another car. Although car mechanics did have a pic of a late Bimmer 7 series which has a water cooled alternator on it!

 

[robwright]

It feeds cooling air to the alternator mate. Another Porsche quirk! I reinstated mine with some cheap metal flexi I got from the local motor factors. Chances are you can live without it but it doesn't hurt to have some cooling on the alternator.

 

[Mr.FixitNorm]

Thanks chaps, I originally thought that but didn't think alternators needed cooling! I suppose it might also be that it's not cooled naturally very well where it's placed. I'll see if my local motor factors have a flexi pipe which fits over the plastic pipes instead of inside !


Norm

---- I'm still waiting to be panned for welding the stabiliser bracket []

 

[robwright]

I think it maybe an aircon option thing. If your car was not specced wih air con then the alternator would sit where there aircon pump is on the bottom of the engine. With aircon it is moved up to the top and considerably warmer and no airflow part of the engine.

 

[homesea]

On some cars the alternator has a fan blade on the shaft, I've not had a 944 one off for a long time so i'm guessing it dosent and thats why it has the pipe.[&:]

The brackets don't cost a lot from Porsche (think a couple of sqwids), they are common to snapping, one company did make a bracket surpport, cant think who maybe they were on ebay.

 

[Hilux]

Thanks chaps, I originally thought that but didn't think alternators needed cooling! []

All alternators have a fan on the pulley and are designed to have cool, air pulled or pushed over the windings.

Some modern ones (buried in huge V engines are indeed water jacketed)

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: Mr.FixitNorm
---- I'm still waiting to be panned for welding the stabiliser bracket []

No panning here. If the repair is strong enough, what's wrong with it? Not spending money when you don't need to is a good thing in my book - well done!

(Useless fact: I was once told that in Sweden, damaged cars can be 'cut-and-shut' legally, by government approved workshops, who do the job to a very high standard. The fact that it is a cut-and-shut is recorded on the final vehicle's logbook, and they attract a slight price premium in the second-hand market as they tend to be stronger than standard cars. I don't know whether this is true or not, but it came from a semi-reliable source (my father). If this is the case with whole cars, I am sure it can also apply to your bracket.)


Oli.

 

[robwright]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

(Useless fact: I was once told that in Sweden, damaged cars can be 'cut-and-shut' legally, by government approved workshops, who do the job to a very high standard. The fact that it is a cut-and-shut is recorded on the final vehicle's logbook, and they attract a slight price premium in the second-hand market as they tend to be stronger than standard cars. I don't know whether this is true or not, but it came from a semi-reliable source (my father). If this is the case with whole cars, I am sure it can also apply to your bracket.)


Oli.

I maybe wrong Oli but I think that is also the case in the UK as long as it is done safely, legally and declared. He prepares to be corrected by someone more knowledgable [&:]

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: robwright
I maybe wrong Oli but I think that is also the case in the UK as long as it is done safely, legally and declared.  He prepares to be corrected by someone more knowledgable [&:]

I thought the point was that it wasn't illegal in the UK, but is almost always done by back-street garages looking to make a quick buck on a damaged car, and is usually done such that the structural integrity of the car is very compromised, hence such 'cut-and-shuts' are best avoided.

How would it be declared on the car registration in the UK?


Oli.

 

[robwright]

Possibly as a Cat D write off?? I am not sure.

 

[zcacogp]

Possibly. Good idea. If something is declared as a "Cat <anything> write-off", is the reason for it listed as well? (i.e. "Cat D because of extensive frontal damage", perhaps?)


Oli.

 

[robwright]

Again not too sure Oli but I am sure someone who does know will be along to put us out of our misseries pretty soon []

 

[zcacogp]

Rob,

OK.

>AwaitsSomeoneWhoKnowsAboutTheseThings<


Oli.