Alternator life expectancy ?
01-06-2006, 02:10 AM
#31
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Originally Posted by omilu
mine died a week after I posted at 145,000K, forgot to knock on wood!
03-30-2010, 05:24 AM
#33
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Alternator life - 993 C4S 1997
In response to the question of how long do alternators last, mine just failed at 145,000 miles. Cost me £700 inc labour and VAT for a 'new' official Porsche part.
I had a new Bosch Silver battery two years ago and a new earth lead about a month ago.
I use a CTEK Multi XS 3600 battery conditioner/charger.
Cheers
Matthew
Black 993 C4S 1997
I had a new Bosch Silver battery two years ago and a new earth lead about a month ago.
I use a CTEK Multi XS 3600 battery conditioner/charger.
Cheers
Matthew
Black 993 C4S 1997
03-30-2010, 07:02 AM
#34
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My alternator hasn't died yet,knocking on wood, at 61K but the belt went in a big way and I drove another 70 miles, all freeway on the battery to make it home. I pulled into the driveway and cut the engine. Came back 5 minutes later, started it up and put it in the garage. I had no other lights on then the battery and ABS. It could have gone further but didn't need to. 2 months later, the battery dropped a cell. I'm replaceing it now as I don't know the age of the battery.
03-30-2010, 12:34 PM
#36
I'm at 110K on the original alternator. But when I pull the engine/gearbox to do the clutch, I will rebuild the alternator as well.
The big problem appears to be: where do you get the bearings, voltage regulator, and brushes to DIY this?
The big problem appears to be: where do you get the bearings, voltage regulator, and brushes to DIY this?
03-30-2010, 12:55 PM
#37
"When it does fail, I'll just replace the bearings,
the voltage regulator/brushes and dress the slip rings."
"There is very little that fails in an alternator."
Right, just all of the above!
the voltage regulator/brushes and dress the slip rings."
"There is very little that fails in an alternator."
Right, just all of the above!
03-30-2010, 02:31 PM
#39
Rennlist Member
The voltage regulator comes with brushes. They are available from Pelican and many other suppliers. You can even source brushes by themselves.
Just look at the mega-dollar blower motor for example. You can either get the whole blower assembly or just the blower motor by itself.
All one needs to do is type in the Bosch (or whatever) part number that is on the item and Google it. The Bosch blower motor was marked: 0 130 111 145. I just totally disassembled my blower motor/fan and washed it out the other day.
03-30-2010, 05:15 PM
#41
Rennlist Member
Sorry about that, but when you've worked on everything from chainsaws to aircraft engines, you take things for granted.
The following P-Car Workshop how-to will at least show you how to remove the alternator and replace the voltage regulator.
Once you have the alternator out, its just a matter of splitting the casing which is normally held together by screws and then removing the bearings.
There are other modes of failure, but they are far less common.
BTW, a digital camera is your friend. Take pics from all angles at each stage if you think you'll forget how it goes back together.
The following P-Car Workshop how-to will at least show you how to remove the alternator and replace the voltage regulator.
Once you have the alternator out, its just a matter of splitting the casing which is normally held together by screws and then removing the bearings.
There are other modes of failure, but they are far less common.
BTW, a digital camera is your friend. Take pics from all angles at each stage if you think you'll forget how it goes back together.
03-30-2010, 07:48 PM
#42
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Sorry about that, but when you've worked on everything from chainsaws to aircraft engines, you take things for granted.
The following P-Car Workshop how-to will at least show you how to remove the alternator and replace the voltage regulator.
Once you have the alternator out, its just a matter of splitting the casing which is normally held together by screws and then removing the bearings.
There are other modes of failure, but they are far less common.
BTW, a digital camera is your friend. Take pics from all angles at each stage if you think you'll forget how it goes back together.
The following P-Car Workshop how-to will at least show you how to remove the alternator and replace the voltage regulator.
Once you have the alternator out, its just a matter of splitting the casing which is normally held together by screws and then removing the bearings.
There are other modes of failure, but they are far less common.
BTW, a digital camera is your friend. Take pics from all angles at each stage if you think you'll forget how it goes back together.
kool, that seems easy enough...tks.
03-30-2010, 09:49 PM
#44
Rennlist Member
The brushes of the voltage regulator make contact with the slip rings. The slip rings are part of the rotor or field windings that the pulley turns, therefore the slip rings rotate against the brushes.
If all goes well over tens of thousands of miles or kilometers, the slip rings should be smooth or have shallow grooves in them. If they have shallow grooves, I'll turn the rotor on my lathe to smooth the grooves out. The slip rings can be thin, so you can only take off so much.
If a voltage regulator goes, a shop will just install it without even addressing the slip rings...so don't worry about it...inspect them and make a judgement call.
If all goes well over tens of thousands of miles or kilometers, the slip rings should be smooth or have shallow grooves in them. If they have shallow grooves, I'll turn the rotor on my lathe to smooth the grooves out. The slip rings can be thin, so you can only take off so much.
If a voltage regulator goes, a shop will just install it without even addressing the slip rings...so don't worry about it...inspect them and make a judgement call.
03-30-2010, 09:55 PM
#45
Rennlist Member
All this of course is for the few of us that enjoy fixing things instead of just replacing them.
BMW told me I could not fix that $831 Valeo starter motor on my motorcycle and that the parts were not available. Fixed! Cost...$0.
The Transpo.de site lists countless parts for various manufacturers. They have an office in the US.
Transpo.de Vehicle Look-Up. Lots of good info there. I just looked up parts for my 1995. They had brushes, voltage regulators, etc for my alternator along with specs, etc.
Alternator parts for my 1995 Carrera. Click on the items to see all details.
BMW told me I could not fix that $831 Valeo starter motor on my motorcycle and that the parts were not available. Fixed! Cost...$0.
The Transpo.de site lists countless parts for various manufacturers. They have an office in the US.
Transpo.de Vehicle Look-Up. Lots of good info there. I just looked up parts for my 1995. They had brushes, voltage regulators, etc for my alternator along with specs, etc.
Alternator parts for my 1995 Carrera. Click on the items to see all details.
