low idle on 3.2

[falcon]

I forgot which way to clock the housing around the alternator/fan. I used the 101 projects book as a guide. Clocked the housing and installed.....wrong. The illustrationis 180 degrees out. If you read this either dry fit and check the orientation of the housing without the alt/fan so that you can orientate it correctly onto the alt/fan. Also there is a slot at the bottom in which Wil Ferch states it prevents rotational movement. This is important because after installing the housing correctly (BTW the Porsche part number is 12 o'clock) the bottom of the housing was touching the fan pulley from the engine block. I had to reposition the housing correctly using the reference groove that I vaguely remember reading about.

Anyway the unit is in and she started with no problems. A friend lent me one of those voltage meters that installs into the cig lighter. After starting and idling around 1100 the meter showed 11.9V. After a few minutes it read 12V. I wasn't sure how to get the actual alternator voltage so I let the car idle for a bit longer. Actually at least the car did not die after 30 seconds. The voltage meter increased to 12.1V. This is good since I did not charge the battery to the 100% mark so this shows that the alternator and regulator is working.

Car running a bit rough but no backfire or misses. The only issue now is that the alternator IDIOT Light is flickering. I read the owners manual and it stated that either the belt is loose or broken. I turned her off and checked the belt tension. Pretty tight hardly deflecting. Possibly too tight, but not loose or broken.

I'll try driving her out tonight to see if any backfires, misfires or if the alternator light stops flickering.

[jlex]

Falcon:
That charge rate sounds way too low. Mine normally shows around 13.2 volts in normal running. I'd say to check the accuracy of that in dash voltmeter by using an actual hand-held digital multimeter at the battery posts. Go to Sears & get one for about $15.00. Even the inexpensive ones are surprisingly accurate. If you're still that low on the battery, something's still wrong. Good luck.
jlex.

[Rot 911]

Your alternator and/or regulator is not charging. A fully charged battery reads around 12.6 volts without the engine running. With the engine at 1000 rpms you should be getting a charge of somewhere between a low of 13.6 and a high of around 14.0.

[falcon]

I used an analog meter this weekend and the battery only gives me about 12.5V sometimes lower at 2K RPM. Something is still wrong. I'm going to remove the alternator again and check the slip rings to see if they are metallic (see W. Firch comment above) and that the carbide prongs are making contact with the slip rings. then I'll bring the unit back to the place that rebuilt the unit (2 year warranty) and have them verify the output for me again. I hope they come back with a 12-12.5V output. That would explain the problem.

The good news is that I am now proficient in removing and installing this darn alternator :-)

[falcon]

Update on this alternator episode. After a recess to Universal Studios in Hollywood and Seaworld in San Diego (Nice place) I finally found time to bring in the alternator. Well, there was something wrong internally (not clear on what) and was fixed by the shop. I installed the unit tonight and measured about 14V at the output at the battery terminals. Battery light on the dash went out and the car runs fine with no hesitation or backfire. Idle is fine.

Thanks guys for the help. Onto the brakes....

[dickster]

excellent!

its good when these threads are followed throught to their conclusion- much more informative.