Robin Ralston

My alternator in my '96 Carrera4 just died at 68K shortly after having new belts installed. A contributing factor may also be that a Zapco amplifier was installed by previous owner? It died in the worst place possible and I'm being screwed on the repair. Don't know how to fight it. Just glad no one in a truck shoved it over the cliff before the tow vehicle could get it out of everyone's way.

WRXdriver

My alternator died last week, but fortunately I limped it home. Fuel flow barely supported idle speed in first gear the last three blocks which really sucked. A fresh battery got it to the shop where a new alternator was quickly installed and I smiled all 10 miles home. We took the SUV to our cabin for the Fourth, so 4:30 AM last Saturday was the second drive, just 7 short miles to the airport for a work trip. When I left home I had four round tires, but upon arrival in the parking ramp I heard an ominous clicking sound and experienced the uncomfortable squirm from the rear that can only mean a flat tire. Predictably, the nail is in one of the rear tires which would’ve had another +/- 1,500 miles of rubber to go, but fronts just reached the wear bar. Four new tires are on the way. The point is I’ve made two $1,000+ cash infusions in less then 20 miles, both issues very nearly left me stranded, and as a bonus I have to either remove the wheel or make the tire hold air for 15 minutes before I can even go home to my family tomorrow. I still love the car.

Full disclosure: I deserve all the above because, like an idiot, about two hours before alternator failed I was bragging to a fellow air cooled 911 neighbor about how reliable my 993 has been.

Glad you’re safe! As soon as you drive it again the aggravation will be forgotten. Replace the alternator and move on. (no pun intended)

-Mark

KNS

I’ve got 111,000 miles on the 993 alternator.

My 2004 BMW 325i (I’m the original owner) has 231,000 miles on the original alternator.

jesseleeweaver

124k but gonna replace it with a new starter. 2008 boxster. Battery is 10 years old with the pulley kit, no a/c belt, no radio. Gonna replace the battery too.

becker - 97'C4S

I had the original alternator cranking good but my alternator belt went kaput on the road was about to change it myself had all tools with me but the nut was seized...so while dealing with the nut made a silicon temp belt and I was not getting the13.6V so loosk like finally my alternator is out...i"m the original owner so probably i shouldn't complain...my fan has some cracks on the hub should i change that too?

bobbyp

Change that fan before it fails suddenly and catastrophically. Get the fan and bearing complete and make your life easier. I got mine from Rose Passion in France with delivery to NYC in like 3 days.

IainM

At 140kmiles the grooves in my slip rings were over 1mm deep and the brushes were under 5mm long.
replaced all 3 bearings while I was in there. The diode pack is probably good for another 100k seeing as its 3phase, air cooled and built like the proverbial but I replaced that too.
rock steady at 14.2V for another 100k

becker - 97'C4S

So I put all the pieces together(new fan included) all great and a couple of weeks ago my car got towed while visiting a friend(bummer) I picked it and no scratches
but a few days later my fan starts scratching the housing, now I see the the fan is wavy if I pull it by hand, the alternator rod is fine
so looks like my fan bearing got wacked when they lifted my car? Is that possible? Hear it is a pain to get the bearing out of the fan

71-3.0-911

Likely coincidental. Regardless, getting the fan bearing out isn't bad. If you get stuck, let us know.

becker - 97'C4S

U r right but needed that spider tool to grab it I got the fan off from my old alternator and pulled the bearing pretty quickly, now on the fan in the
car I'll see if can pull it out also without moving the housing

pp000830

My Alternator has 110K miles on it and works perfectly, go figure?