timbuktoo

so I drove over this bridge. and the bridge and a lot of pot holes and I heard a loud clunk. I pulled over but everything looked fine on the car. so I kept going and the power steering cut out. I figured when I hit the bump it broke the powersteering so I started heading home and then the engine stopped. when I looked again the alternator was hanging on to the bottom of the car by threads and one of the belts was missing from the car and another was derailed and just hanging off the alternator. my dad pulled me home. we charged the battery and started the car (just to get up the driveway), so the engine is fine but it needs a new alternator and something is wrong with the power steering. the car was leaking some water to which was probably from the power steering I think, but I could be wrong

so I need to fix the car. I'm very technically/mechanically inclined, however I have little idea of what to do. I would think that if the mount is still there then the alternator will just be a bolt in and then tighting the belt (how does one go about this), but if I'm incorrect in this assumption please correct me, or if the mount is all broken what do I do. the other belt would also need to be replaced and I dont know how to do that. but the most worrying part for me is the power steering, because I know nothing about it.

also when we were towing it, we broke the bar that goes over the engine block.

I'll post pics of the damage later if it helps you guys help me figure out what to do. Please help.

WallyP

One of the major reasons for not having a 928 fashionably low...

If the alternator grounded hard, you may have broken a chunk out of the engine block. The only way to know is to get under with a good light and see what has happened.

The power steering pump shares the alternator mount, so the pump may be loose as well. Any leakage from the power steering will be ATF (Dexron), not water.

If you are very lucky, you just broke the mount, which will have to be replaced. Contact Mark or Tom at 928 International for used parts...

Mrmerlin

how did you break the bar over the engine?
I hope you didnt try to tow the car by using this bar.

It would be helpful to include the year and trans type of your car

timbuktoo

well the engine still runs so I dont think this happened. but I will check later today and get pics.

http://www.mailordercentral.com/928i...101%20123%2002 is this the bracket?

also if it wasn't the power steering that was leaking water, what could it be?

thanks for the speedy response.

EDIT:
yes. we did try to pull it using the bar... how important is the bar?
86 auto

WallyP

Breaking a chunk out of the block will not affect short-term running.

Speculation is useless - get a light and look...

timbuktoo

oh. I'll check when I get home today, and I'll post pics. what would one do to replace the belts though?

JHowell37

One of the best things I ever did for my 928 was lift it about 1-1.5cm.

I bottomed out mine a few years ago. I got damn lucky with it. It sheared the long bolt on the alternator, and the bolt that secures the lower alternator bracket to the block. The threaded portion of the upper bolt came right out. The lower bolt required some drilling and the use of a helicoil.

I've since switched to a motorcraft alternator that is a bit smaller and therefore sits up higher to add a little extra clearance, but the big thing has been raising the car slightly. I find that it's improved the ride quality and eliminated any ground clearance issues I had while on my driveway (gravel road). If it won't bottom out on my driveway, it's highly unlikely it will bottom out anywhere else unless I really get into trouble.

Mrmerlin

I dont know what to say ,
who would try to tow the car with the engine cross brace,
maybe you just dont understand how its loaded.

BTW there is a tow hook in your tool tray and it screws in through the grill on the right side

MainePorsche

..

timbuktoo

my bad. and thanks for the tip about the tow hook, although so many of the tools for it were left out by PO, so IDK if its there.

good news is though, I think the engine isnt broken, just the bracket, cause it seems fairly solidly mounted still. I'm waiting for my dad to get home with the camera so I can put up pics.

ajricker

And I had to wait until my mid 50's to own and appreciate one of these cars. :'(
Timbucktoo, The best advice I can give you is locate a manual, study it and learn as much as you can.

MainePorsche

Go here for owner's manual.

https://rennlist.com/forums/7538965-post1.html

timbuktoo

thanks for the manual.
pics of damage:








EDIT: fixing an img tag. it sucks too, cause I replaced a relay for the AC in it the other day and now I cant enjoy that, nor the rest of the car until I fix this

jwillman

Whats scary is that you guessed how it happened. I would have never thought to even try that!!

timbuktoo

before I try and order anything, is this the correct bracket for the alternator or not?

EDIT:
also, how did you do this- longer springs/stacked washers/something else? also how did it drive afterwards?
EDIT2: fixing link