[Simuse]

So when my 968 got to where I bought it from would be alternator #1.



While there (about a month later) they noted she was exibiting transmission problems with the tiptronic - stalling and lugging. Fix turned out to be a new alternator. Alternator #2.



I come into the picture about another month later - 968? Black? Camel interior?!? Checks out okay? She's mine!



A few days later into reverse and out of where I was parked - into drive and died. Started back up...odd methinks.



A few days later got to work, turned her off and then suddenly decided to run up for coffee - turned the ignition over and turns once and click...nothing.



Went into work and a couple hours later back out to try it again and she turned over - back to where I bought it and they said - it's the alternator (this would be number three over the past few months). Must have been a bad one - it happens. Alternator #3.



Ran fine for about a month - then noticed volt meter not keeping in the 13 range.



Trip over the weekend - about 160 miles away. Get there, hung out for about 20 minutes then off to dinner. After dinner back to the car and into reverse and out of where I was parked - into drive and died.



Odd again...I say to myself. Would not start back up - turned the ignition over and turns once and click...nothing. Went back into the restaurant to have a drink or two (I was...um...stressed) - back out and if I kept the ignition turned off she would turn over once...click....pause...then turn over again and fire up. reverse and out of where I was parked - into drive and died. Tried it again, and it was okay.



Volt meter now started out around 12...engine running hotter than usual. Got back to where I was staying though.



Okay - first thing when I get home to the shop I say to myself.



Next morning....would not start - turned the ignition over and turns once and click...nothing. Kept the ignition turned off she would turn over once...click....pause...then turn over again and fire up. Reverse and out of where I was parked - into drive and died. Tried it again, and it was okay (yes - just like the night before).



Heading north (straight to the garage I decided) - was running a little hot and volt meter around 11.8 to 12.2. Pulled off for fuel and she started to lug and stutter and stall and the red exclamation light that tells you the world is ending comes on and the airbag light comes on and into neutral and rolled to a stop and she died.



Tow from there.........a long tow from there.........



To the shop and.............it's the alternator. New Bosch alternator, new battery too - all under warranty. Alternator #4.



Tonight - coming home from work - volt meter starts at 13ish and down to 12 by the time I get home (20 minutes start and stop with lights and wipers). Seemed to run hotter than usual - again - but perhaps I am just hypersensitive right now.



Perhaps I am just worrying - but so many bad alternators seems odd. Is something killing my alternators?

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[SILVY968]

Chris,



Is there coolant leaking into the alternator? There is a line just above it.

Does the alternator have any signs of mechanical damage?

Is this the exact replacement part? Is it a NEW or REBUILT part?

When she dies, does a jump get her started again?

Maybe you have a short that is drawing down the alternator and frying the internal regulator.

It might not be a bad idea to have a PM check it out. After this many alternators I would be suspicious of another cause.

I trust Monty @ Redmond European in Redmond. May be worth the effort. Getting stuck with a dead daily driver is a b#@ch. It may be worth it not to get stuck again. I would rather pay to get a problem fixed than to get it fixed many times for "free"!

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[Simuse]

The two I have been involved with (last two) would be one new and one rebuilt. New Bosch on there now -



Haven't had to jump it yet so at least I know that a jumpstart didn't fry anything.



I am worried about a the short - this is bad for me as it is one area (anything really to do with electricity) that is beyond my mental capacities.

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[SILVY968]

Two words" Porsche Mechanic"

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[Greimann]

What would be interesting to know is if there were any bench tests done on the "bad" alternators that tested output voltage and current. That many coincidences in a row points to a conspiracy. Something else is the problem. I know one weak point is the black charging wire bolted to the back of the alternator. If it has been overheated from high charging current, then it can become brittle, reducing its ability to charge, which demands more current from the alternator, which heats it up.....

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[Simuse]

At this point two different PM's, at two different places (but am wondering about a third opinion?!?!)



The last two times tests were done on the alternator showing it was bad - but yeah...I wonder about a run of bad alternators or a run of the real problem making them bad?



This last time output started at 12.4 and went down upon warming up, with the new one was good at 13.5...they checked all ground points, etc.



During this time two new batteries to - as whatever is going on seems to be making it so they no longer hold a charge.



I'll take a look at the wire - am assuming this is something that checking it visually / by touch can show if there is a problem?



I am also frustrated by whatever happened this last time tripped the passenger airbag mod - so now I have the airbag and "!" danger everywhere lights on (they were going to take care of this too but were just fitting me in being kinda stranded)...note alternators 1-3 were before the mod.

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[flash]

i would be looking for a serious short - it is extremely unlikely that a "batch" of alternators is bad - more than likely you have a problem in the system that is blowing the alternator



take a good look at all cables - make sure they are clean and no signs of housing cracking - this does sound like resistance in the cable



also, take a good look at the belt - make sure it is straight and the pulley is not at an angle - dragging the pulley at an angle will cause the bearing to fail, and give you this kind of problem



you are looking for something that is common to every incident - check every circuit - is everything working? is there any aftermarket electrical work?

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[Simuse]

This last time I got new battery cables and new alternator belt...but that's good advice to check.



Am also thinking about what's left over from previous owners - I know there's still at least once power line running that needs to be ripped out (was to an old miami vice type of phone). And I wonder about the "stereo weirdness" I had / have from a previous post of mine. Still no new stereo - have been almost waiting to see these problems go away before investing in / and installing anything new electrical wise.



The only thing I can think of that is clearly common is that it is first exhibited by shifting from reverse to drive right after starting - then she dies. At this point it seems like you have 24 hours or 20 miles (whichever comes first) before things go seriously awry....

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[flash]

wow - that almost sounds like you pop a diode pack in the alternator from a short and then run on the battery until it runs down



when you say you changed battery cables, are you saying the one from the positive to the starter, and the big negative cable? or did you also change the one from the alternator to the battery?



if it is brought on by shifting, it may be in the tip's electronics or controls

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[Simuse]

Well...my PM changed the cables - they look new coming off of the battery anyway!



The latest - in case anyone is curious - is that the dash volts are staying in the 12 to 12.3 range (now on alternator #4) for the last two days - didn't trust my cheap hand meter to test at battery - so back to my PM this morning and readying was 13.5 at idle and 13.1 with all lights, defrost, AC, etc etc all on - this while the dash reading was in the 12 range.



SO - I think we've seen the dash being off here before, and mine seems to be off by 1.



Am almost wondering now if before - when it was at 13 to 13.5 on the dash it was over charging? Maybe one of the batteries was bad?



I HATE electrical problems. Interestingly the only cars I have ever had electrical issues with were German ones with volt gauges.



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[SILVY968]

The Voltage indicator seems to read 1.0 - .5 volts low, based upon the input from other members on this subject.

Did the PM test the charging amps at 2-3K rpm?

Voltage is only 1/2 the issue.

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