MisterRisky

I cannot say that the alternators from Paragon are good, but they certainly are not expensive.

Pelican Parts and Vertex also have slightly more expensive alternators.

If you are interested in doing work yourself, this is a good candidate as the alternator is pretty straight forward. You will probably want to replace your fan bearing or do the RS fan hub conversion while you are in there. If the fan hub bearing goes down on you, you risk damaging your fan which, interestingly enough, is a lot more expensive than the alternator.

jox

I think I'm gonna give this one a shot myself actually! Thanks for all your help!

Should I not drive the car before I fix it? It drives perfectly fine, but the sound/light is still there when I was out a little while ago.

MisterRisky

If the alternator is not charging then you are running your ignition system off of battery. Sounds like a recipe for getting stranded a few miles out with a dead battery. It should not damage the car, only drain your battery.

jox

OK. Now I don't know if I should be happy or worried.

Came home from work and thought, "Hey, maybe a miracle happened during the day and fixed my car - let's start it up!". And it was! All gone! Blip-blip sound and the flickering light. Nothing there!

Now, should I be happy that it was just my car reacting negatively to some spirited driving and it's all good now, or worried that it's gonna come back again soon? Damn car can't even be broken properly...

elbeee964

It'll be back.

And likely at its chosen time, not yours.

jox

Yup.... a trip around the block and it was there again

MisterRisky

It's taunting you. Show it who the boss is!

jox

12 volts shut off and 13 at idle. I assume that confirms it's the alternator?

Indycam

How many volts at higher rpm ?

You said you added lots of oil ?

jox

I have nobody to rev for me. I'll check again once the lady is back from wherever she is ...

Don't know if it's a lot but I added a quart of oil?

Indycam

Can you hook up the meter and then set it on the fender facing the drivers seat ?

Digital meter ?

Do you have another car to run a test on ?

jox

Yes, it's digital - but the cords aren't long enough. Just checked with the other cars, showed a steady 12 and both around 14,5 at idle.

Also, I forgot to mention - the ABS light stayed on when I was out the last time. Hadn't seen that before! A quick search gave some threads about the clock, but I didn't have the other lights and symptoms for that disease, so I guess that's not what goes on with mine ...

BTW - You guys are awesome for helping out!

Indycam

Just 12 ?

A good battery charged should show 12.6 .

If you take the battery out of the porsche and charge it up , what does it show ?

The voltage regulator on the back of the alternator isn't hard to change once the alternator is out of the car .

tbennett017

I am beginning to wonder if it is a nascent "Christmas Tree" issue... though I am not entirely qualified on the pathology of that particular disease... Search for that here to see if you have any other symptoms.

[insert gratuitous color reference here, set color value to: BLACK]

--tcb

jox

I've searched high and low for the "christmas tree", but everyone refers to it as just that, assuming everyone knows what it is Haven't found a thread that actually explains what happens.

Haven't yet had the chance to see the voltage under load - BUT, It appears my batteri is missing the little plastic protection thingies over the poles, and the plus pole has a LOT of corrosion on it along with the wire. Perhaps that has something to do with it ... ?