HoBoJoe

So apparently my car is missing the flexi pipe that conects to the cooling duct for the alternator.. does anyone have a spare one??? I don't know how much the alternator needs it, but if porsche put it there it must need it a little bit... Thanks guys...

Cyrus951

Just measure the diameter, and go to the autozone to get a cheap one for around $10.

IceShark

The diameter is 60 mm which is an oddball size in North America. If you go to the auto store they sell crankcase vent hose that goes to the air cleaner that is 60 mm x1000mm accordian type hose. Get the type that has an aluminum core covered on both sides by some sort of clear plastic - won't rust or be bothered by water. Only a few bucks. Get 2 clamps while you are there.

The alternator really needs this if you want it to work at top output and have a long life. Some guys racing the car for a weekend have killed an alternator without it due to heat frying the diodes.

HoBoJoe

Thanks for the help guys... i went to my local Porsche dealer and they said $40 before my discount(20%)... seemed NUTS to pay 32 bux for something like that...

TurboTommy

My ducting is also missing.
But, where is supposed to go? I can't see any place in front of the car where cooling air can be taken to cool the alternator.
Also, I lowered my alternator using the AC delete bracket. Is this location not quite a bit cooler?
Also, I've noticed on many cars in their engine bays that there is no provisions for alternator cooling whats so ever. Am I mistaken here?

Jaak Lepson

Tommy ... it comes from the front spoiler area, up the wheel well on the drivers side to the alt. Easier to see where it goes when it is on a hoist and the drivers front wheel removed. The original looked like a small periscope.

Jaak Lepson

IceShark

And the Porsche hose is a POS for that $32. It is a mild steel coil wire covered on both sides by a fabric. Which is not water proof. What happens is that the inner coil rusts through and then springs the sharp edges through the fabric covering ripping the hose to shreads.

TurboTommy, errr, you have this thing called a turbo that gets hot and sits pretty close to the alt, lowered or not. The alt sucks in the cooling air from the back and out the front as you might suspect. And our engine bays get a LOT hotter at low speeds, even 944NAs, than "normal" cars. You can buy a couple buck hose and extend alternator life or just replace the alternator years before you would have had to. Sort of a simple decision, especially when you look at the cost of a rebuilt alternator.

APKhaos

Thr Shark is right. You are not looking for 'cool' air, you are looking to prevent the alternator from sucking superheated air from the turbo area. A flex hose running anywhere around the lower regions of the engine bay will do the job nicely. You can run it to the front to pick up ram air, but its not essential.

CurlyDE

Here is a pic of what the hose connects to ... mine was missing when I bought the car.

http://www.technopenguin.com/images/951/951e017.jpg

K-bit

Now that I see the picture of the missing hose I find mine missing also. Any pictures of what it should look like with the hose on and where it runs to?
Thanks,
Jack

Asarus

Here are 5 pictures to show the system

K-bit

Thanks - I may be missing more than just the flex hose.
Jack

pete944

I picked up a hose from Autozone for around $8 that was 65mm diameter. It wasn't easy to find (I had to go to three different Autozones) but it works.

TurboTommy

Thanks for the pics, guys

z3bra

If you don't mind spending ~55 bucks use this:

55125K78
General Purpose Duct Hose Silicone/Fiberglass, 2-1/2" ID, 2-21/32" OD
Quantity Per Ft.
1-24 Ft. $11.28

The top number is the McMaster Carr part number. The only reason it's 55 bucks is that they have a 5 foot minimum cut length.

Here's some specs on it:

High-Temperature Silicone-Coated Fiberglass
2 1/2" ID 2.65" OD 2 1/2" Minimum bend radius 21 psi Pressure rating 18" Hg vacuum rating.
• Construction: Orange-red, 2-ply fiberglass fabric with silicone coating
• Reinforcement: Spring-steel wire helix and a fiberglass cord bonded to cover
• Temperature Range:
-75° to +500° F
• Compressibility: 1.5 to 1 for hose with 3 1/2" and smaller IDs; 2 to 1 for 4" and larger IDs