Voltage spikes on '88 911
04-13-2008, 05:26 PM
#31
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"Let the rejoicing begin".
Got the alternator on and started the car at 11:35am today. You may have heard my cries of joy and relief.
A few key things I discovered about this job:
- Orientation of the alternator and housing is key. Muck this up and it's not going back in.
- Watch the notched area of the housing at the bottom. This needs to go forward of the pulley and not aft of it.
- You need little hands, a magnet and mirror to place nuts and retrieve them when they drop.
- Don't rush, be patient and methodical.
- You need a lot of different wrenches - thin wall and stubby ones really help.
- The electrical posts on my alternator were three different sizes - 7mm, 8mm and 10mm with matching ring connectors on the wires. Very smart design because it is impossible to mix them up when re-installing.
I wish I could do this again because I've got it down pat. Anyone in the Toronto area wanting to do this - I am game.
Thanks to everyone for their help and support.
Got the alternator on and started the car at 11:35am today. You may have heard my cries of joy and relief.
A few key things I discovered about this job:
- Orientation of the alternator and housing is key. Muck this up and it's not going back in.
- Watch the notched area of the housing at the bottom. This needs to go forward of the pulley and not aft of it.
- You need little hands, a magnet and mirror to place nuts and retrieve them when they drop.
- Don't rush, be patient and methodical.
- You need a lot of different wrenches - thin wall and stubby ones really help.
- The electrical posts on my alternator were three different sizes - 7mm, 8mm and 10mm with matching ring connectors on the wires. Very smart design because it is impossible to mix them up when re-installing.
I wish I could do this again because I've got it down pat. Anyone in the Toronto area wanting to do this - I am game.
Thanks to everyone for their help and support.
04-13-2008, 05:52 PM
#33
Team Owner
God Job Ontario .. now get on The Canadian forum and get to our get together next saturday at Chapters across from sherway mall.. see ya there
05-09-2008, 09:53 PM
#36
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Well the saga continues.
The original problem I was trying to correct with the alternator rebuild has returned. That is, the stereo amplifier cuts out while the car is being driven. I traced this to voltage spikes up to 18 volts which is why I had the alternator rebuilt.
All has been well for two weeks although I have not been driving the car much during that time. Today, the amp started cutting out again. I got it in the garage with the intent of putting the multimeter on the battery when the problem disappeared. I sat there with the m.m. on the battery with the engine running and the voltage stayed at 13-14 volts.
I am beginning to wonder if I have a bad battery. What does the collective think? I'm going to have to drive with the multimeter and if I start having the problem again, I will pull over and test the voltage.
BTW, I am having no other electrical problem. I do, however, have a slightly fluctuating idle both before and after the alt. rebuild.
The original problem I was trying to correct with the alternator rebuild has returned. That is, the stereo amplifier cuts out while the car is being driven. I traced this to voltage spikes up to 18 volts which is why I had the alternator rebuilt.
All has been well for two weeks although I have not been driving the car much during that time. Today, the amp started cutting out again. I got it in the garage with the intent of putting the multimeter on the battery when the problem disappeared. I sat there with the m.m. on the battery with the engine running and the voltage stayed at 13-14 volts.
I am beginning to wonder if I have a bad battery. What does the collective think? I'm going to have to drive with the multimeter and if I start having the problem again, I will pull over and test the voltage.
BTW, I am having no other electrical problem. I do, however, have a slightly fluctuating idle both before and after the alt. rebuild.
05-10-2008, 02:13 PM
#37
"I traced this to voltage spikes up to 18 volts which is why I had the alternator rebuilt."
Then the regulator was NOT replaced and most likely just the brushes were replaced,
and maybe not even that. Or, the "rebuilder" used a junk regulator.
Then the regulator was NOT replaced and most likely just the brushes were replaced,
and maybe not even that. Or, the "rebuilder" used a junk regulator.
05-10-2008, 05:10 PM
#38
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Drove all day today and no problems. I did use a reputable rebuilder who does a lot of dealer work. Saw an Audi dealer truck pull in as I was there.
I'm going to have to get one of those plug-in voltage gauges to see what's going on. Maybe my amp is bad. Nothing else seems wrong in terms of electrical.
I'm going to have to get one of those plug-in voltage gauges to see what's going on. Maybe my amp is bad. Nothing else seems wrong in terms of electrical.
