Generator/Battery warning options

[stomper]

Hi, this warning light came on today and within 30 mins I had to pull over and call the AA. The very helpful AA person got me back home by putting a new battery in and he was totally convinced it was the Generator/Alternator.

I've done some research and it seems to be a number of things

a) the alternator/generator is broken which needs to be replaced
b) some part of the unit is broken and can be replaced at a much reduced cost to the whole unit
c) the belt has come off/broken ( which it hasn't in my case )
d) the belt's slipping due to it being wet... This is the interesting one, a couple of posts on other forums have said that this happens after the car had been cleaned which, coincidently, is what I did yesterday.

Anyone else had this?

Any input appreciated.

Thanks

 

[adrian996]

Hi Nigel. I would say that it's probably either the regulator in your alternator or that the alternator itself has failed. Mine died after the car had covered just 12k miles. I replaced the alternator at my Indi for around £240. At the time OPC were asking me for circa £500 fitted - this was around four or five years ago.

I subsequently learnt that it might have been possible to just replace the regulator part of the alternator and that this would have been a lot cheaper. The copper windings and body of my (broken) alternator looked like they were brand new. It was heart breaking to see something that looked perfectly good go in the bin (I now think that it might have been retrieved later!).

It might be worth you re-posting this over on the 996 section of this forum. Richard will undoubtedly be able to help.

I would also contact your nearest auto-electrical place and get them to stick a meter on it. Your voltmeter should be reading 13.7 volts at tick-over (is it?)

Hope this helps and that you get sorted.

Incidentally, the alternator that I got from my Indi was exactly the same one as I would have had via my OPC,

 

[stomper]

Hi, many thanks for the input, my battery's on charge at the moment, once it's able I'm going to test it as you suggested, this is what the aa man did with his new battery before confirming it was the alternator.

I did put in a call to my OPC but it was getting late and they're going to call me back tomorrow, I'll cross post to the 996 forum and also give my local indi a ring.

Thanks again

 

[Peter_Bull]

ORIGINAL: adrian996

I would also contact your nearest auto-electrical place and get them to stick a meter on it. Your voltmeter should be reading 13.7 volts at tick-over (is it?)

My local auto-electrical specialist can refurbish an alternator for around £100 or just replace the diode pack for about £40.

When I had my 996 and I thought I had to replace the alternator my OPC said an exchange unit (supply only) was over £700 for a recon unit!!! Thankfully it was not that. Hence I made the auto-electrical enquiry.

After all, when the OPC replaces your alternator who do they get to recon them? The same auto-electrical that you can use!