[Aerkuld]

I hope this is clear and helpful. It might help to save buying a new or rebuilt alternator. To give you some idea I paid about $80 to have a regulator shipped to me overnight. A rebuilt alternator is about $300, a new Porsche one is listed as being over $1000!
If anyone has any criticism, comments, or anything to add then please let me know.

One other comment on the differences between alternators should you need a new one. There are two different alternators for the 996 and 986 for the early year cars depending on transmission type. The only difference between them is the pulley. The automatic cars have a standard fixed pulley while the six speed cars have a one way roller bearing, or one way clutch, built into the pulley. The one way bearing/clutch works like a freewheel sprocket on a bicycle. On the alternator it will allow the engine to drive the alternator as long as the engine is not rotating slower than the alternator. If the engine speed drops then the alternator will carry on spinning freely until it slows down enough for the drive to resume. I won't go into detail, but this helps to reduce the loads on the drive belt which helps to lengthen belt life. There is a special tool available for $20-30 which allows you to remove the pulleys. You can also buy the pulley seperately, I'll see if I can find the part number and I'll post that.

Obviously I have a few spare regulators now. I will hang on to one of them for myself. If anyone else is looking for one then please PM me. Even if I don't have a spare left I may be able to locate one or suggest where to look.