928Benz

Ok, so I made bad mistake and did not see a dip on a side street. I bottomed out on the driver side and all of a sudden a loud clattering noise. It was loud and scary sounding, I pulled over and shut the engine off. I look underneath and it looks like alternator has pierced thru the protective pan.

I am venturing to guess that the alt is hitting the pan and hopefully that is all it is. Could this possibly be something worse? I'd post pics but it is so dark. Had to get it towed back as I didn't dare start it up again. Guess I'll know more tomorrow.

86.5 928s blk/tan

fraggle

AC compressor may have snapped off the block. Jack it up and pull the pan, check everything. Good luck.

Mike Frye

Hopefully it's just a sheet metal issue with the undertray and nothing worse.

If the alternator busted through it then the tray is bent up high enough that it could be interfering with any number of things like the bottom of the fan blades (unlikely) the alternator pulley (possibly) or the bottom of the crank pulley.

If it didn't spill any oil then the oil pan should be OK, so hopefully it's nothing serious.

Only thing to do is start tearing into it and assess the damages (and watch for those potholes).

928Benz

Thanks for the blind assessment guys.

Mike, I didn't see any oil and I waited 3 hrs after the incident for a tow truck to get me so I think I am safe with the oil pan. You may be right on the crank and/or alt pulley. Noise was god awful I just had to pull over and shut her down. It's at the shop now and I will take a look under the lift tonite. Keeping my fingers crossed. Btw, where are you in Jersey Shore? I got my shark from Asbury Park area.

dcrasta

Take the lower pan off and look. Driver side has the Alternator and Powersteering pump . Alternator likely hit. If you are lucky the front belly pan is making contact with the cooling 'fins' on the Alternator pulley.

That would be your best outcome (you can just remove the pan and hammer it back into shape.)

Mike Frye

I think I may have seen that car. I'm in Point Pleasant.

Good luck on the damage, hopefully it's one of those that sounds like crap but isn't a big deal.

Mrmerlin

if the alternator hit the ground then there is a good chance other damage has occurred to the block mounting points, look carefully

brutus

Sadly, Mrmerlin may be right. The engine block bolt holes for the alternator mount may be broken. Have them check it out carefully.

jpitman2

My undertray was well dinged on the alternator side when I got it, and the front ride height was down around 145mm (vs ~180 std). Now its at spec height, and the tray is back to normal shape.
jp 83 Euro S AT 54k

928Benz

Just saw the car on a lift. My friend says it looks like the alternator pulley and fan needs to be replaced. Probably better off just replacing the alternator all together and belt. Mounting area on block looks ok. He said I lucked out as the alternator actually protected the oil pan which could have been disastrous. Anyway thanks to all and here are some pics. Let me know if anybody sees anything out of the ordinary

Thanks,

86.5 928s blk/tan

vze2jshn

What happened again?

Bill Ball

On the other hand, I dealt with one that had a solid alternator hit and the cassette was angled up a bit and loose. I thought the mounts on the block HAD to be broken. Nope. The bolts were bent and stretched! New bolts, problem fixed. I would never have believed it could happen that way. It's gotta be rare, but sometimes you get lucky...real lucky.

brutus

unintended Dukes of Hazard event.

depami

vze2jshn

And the result that was causing the clanking, etc. was?