One of Twenty

My car died today while driving it. I had a bit of hesitation first when attempting to accelerate and then over the course of the next mile the car more or less died (no smoke or leaking of any fluids) and I coasted to a stop after some serious backfiring. Fortunately for me I made it off the highway and got it towed to my tech who said it sounded like the alternator.

Thanks in advance for any wisdom.



Cheers,

Boeing 717

I had an alternator die on me once, not in my porsche but a nissan, the car just sort of started to lose power and the lights got really dim and it just finally quit. It was kind of a slow death over a minute or so. Hope its nothing serious.

Staffan

When my fan belt broke I drove my car to the shop.
The battery light was on (since it wasn't charging) but the car run okey if I remeber correctly.
Shouldn't the battery light be on if you have a alternator problem?

Doesn't it bevave like it's electrical or could it be an air leak?
I had the same syptom on my car when the hose to the CBV was coming loose.
I would also ground the overboost switch.

Did it hesitate when pressure was building, that would indicate an air leak imo?

cobalt

Usually when the alternator dies and the battery is drained the tach and other gauges will start acting up. The tach needle will bounce from 0 rpms to redline and back.

Ag02M5

I had VERY similar behavior when my flywheel reference sensor connector in the engine bay disintegrated.

nathanUK '81 930 G50

If it is your alternator then the battery light should come on. Start the car and then on purpose stall it. If when the engine dies the battery light comes on then it's probably not your alternator.
You could of course hook up a voltmeter to the battery and compare the voltage of the battery before you start the engine, when it's idling and when your are revving it up to say 4K RPM.

One of Twenty

After the incident the car would not even start. Just a click. Many warning lights illuminated.

Ag02M5

Still sounds 100% like what happened to me. The connector is over by the fuel filter and o2 sensor connector.

Staffan

Ok, no power, sounds like the alternator, still strange the battery ligth didn't come on. Should be easy to verify, keep us posted.

One of Twenty

Just spoke to my tech. It was the alternator after all. It will be sorted today or tomorrow.