G Man

Maybe you can find an alternator / starter shop in your area and have them check out the old unit. I'm sure they could tell you what the condition is. Is the battery old and not accepting a charge any longer? I would check that too if it has not already been done. Good luck.

Charley B

$10 says he turned on the ignition, heard the fuel pump start to run and then quit (as it is designed to do if the car is not started) and assumed he had discovered a bad fuel pump relay.

I think it is time to introduce this mechanic to Rennlist. Let him see that he is not dealing with one woman in a safe little vacumn, but in fact his game is being observed by hundreds.

Give him the web address and your treatment will become much better.

Let him know he can ask questions here.

worf928

$35 for the fuel pump relay?

http://www.mailordercentral.com/928i...0951%20253%20B

$12.00 from JimB at 928 International (plus shipping).

Nice markup Mr Guesswork has on parts.

Jim bailey - 928 International

Her car uses the early relay which is more money.

socalgirl

Heres my lifes motto: One time...SHame on them...two times...Shame on me.
Ive learned my lesson. Thanks to the kind advice I will:
*Pick up the old alternator tomorrow & have it tested, with a written results page
*Pick up my beautiful 928
*Take my wonderful car to 928, for the rest of its lifetime
*Upgrade my AAA membership to make sure my lil guy can get towed from Temecula to Anaheim
*And if Ive been "taken for a ride" I will fight the fight. Loved the idea of standing near his place with a sign that says he's a ripoff and I know just the kid to do it lol
Thanks guys, your guidance & support has been wonderful!

worf928

Oops. You're right of course.

Scratch that socalgirl - not a bad deal at $35 for the relay.

Charley B

Now you're assuming he ordered the right one.

Jim bailey - 928 International

That is assuming that they get the right relay...but it could happen and might just fix the car. Socalgirl you do NOT want to tow your car here...we just take them apart. There are shops in the area who do know 928s however and put them back together

socalgirl

Soo now that I have a plan...Im wondering how I can ask for my old alternator back, so I can get it tested, without risking the "health" of my car, since it is still in Mr Guessworks hands?

Charley B

California law requires that all repair facilities provide the customer a choise of having their old parts given to them. The exception is if a new part requires a core charge, in which case the customer can choose to pay the core charge, or let the repair facility keep the old one.

A disclosure to that effect is required to be stated on your original estimate.

Bill Ball

It should go w/o saying, but next time you have a problem, check in here first before you do anything else other than pull off to the side of the road.

Based on what you replied to Jim earlier (that the car cranked but did not fire until the next day), the alternator was never even on the long list of possibilities, while Mr. Guesswork had it at the top of his short list. The short list should have been, as we learned long ago from Jim.:

1. Relay
2. Relay
3. Relay
4. Other much less likely causes except the alternator

Charley B

Socal Girl, it is always admirable to be self sufficient and taking care of ones business by ones self. The only exception to that "rule" may exist here on Rennlist. I suffer the same malady and find it difficult to say help, but the rules are slightly scewed (sp) in that regard here.

As car Geeks, we actually feel slightly irritated when a fellow (whats the male to female equivilent) 928'r gets handled badly by a local mechanic, ill-equipped to deal with a 928.

You have the added advantage of being female, (you only think you shouldn't take advantage of that) so most of us not only enjoy helping people with a similar interest in the 928, but there's also that whole, "helping a lady in distress" thing.

Next time, at least run it by the peanut gallery here, before donating to the local auto repair larceny fund.

Randy V

Well, he may be onto something there. I, too, had a power steering leak on my '79 that killed the alternator.

So maybe the guy is not a complete hack.

Jim bailey - 928 International

I am now at 4 out of 6 times when a 928 stopped running on me it was a relay...The last timing belt issue at Willow Springs changed the numbers but relays being what they are , they are often what causes a 928 to stop running. It acts just like you shut off the key. You are at the point where you probably need to pay the bill get your old alternator and relay and get your car out of there. Then go back and negotiate or take it to small claims court.

Jim bailey - 928 International

Or Randy you got fed a line of Bull as well ... An alternator is much like an electric motor ...fuel pumps have electric motors which are filled and cooled by the fuel passing through ...ATF (power steering fluid) is basically oil , oil and gas are similar. So what exactly about ATF "kills" alternators , alternators which hang under the engine and see lots of water etc. So yes there may have been a PS leak and your alternator may have died but cause and effect is not proven.