New Alternator
 

My alternator went on my 1983 911sc recently. I bought a Bosch Remanufactrured alternator (model AL400X) but am concered about one thing. The voltage regulator on the old model and every photo I have seen of an alternator (and I really havnen't seen that many) has a wire running to each side of the voltage regulator. The new alternator has clips on each side that the wires attach to but there is only one wire present. I would think that they inspect and test these before they leave the factory, so I am guessing that it is just me.. but I could use a little reassurance. Has anyone seen this before?
Thanks in advance. SmileWavy
Here's the old alternator:
Rickhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1241906927.jpg
Here's the new one:http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1241907021.jpg

I'm guessing, and it's only a guess, that one wire is some sort of ground, and that the new regulator grounds through the case of the alternator and thus the wire isn't needed.

Again, this is only a guess, and I could be 100% wrong.

I'm sure you're correct, and that the alternator has been tested before leaving the rebuilder. Frankly, I don't think I would have noticed the difference and just would have gone ahead and installed the alternator. Good eyes you have!!

Good luck...!

Thanks Scott. I'll run a Voltmeter on it after I have it installed just to check. After the work of removing it the first time, I thought I would check so that I didn't have to do it again.
Rick
,

looks normal to me.

'nuf said!

Install it!

Its going in today.
Thanks
Rick

Rick,
How did you know your car needed a new alternator? The reason I am asking is that I too have an '83 SC, and every so often the tach will wigout, with the needle bouncing around. Also everytime I accelerate, the "Fasten seatbelt" light comes on. I also noticed that my headlights and dash lights get brighter with engine revs.
So I was wondering what symptons did you experienced that told you it was a bum alt.?

My tach was bouncing a bit, but the thing that really clued me in was my fasten seat belt light. A while ago, I was getting a sporadic fasten seat belt light coming on while I was driving but it would go away and I wouldn't see it again until maybe the next drive. This last weekend, it got worse. On one drive, it was coming on every minute or so and staying on for about 3 seconds. Then off. Then on. I read a post on pelican about this happening to someone else and it being alternator related. So I went to radio shack and made a connector so that I could plug my multimeter into the cigarette lighter. After driving around a while, I noticed that everytime the light came on, the voltage spiked at 16 or 17 volts. Otherwise it was marginally high at 14.7 Volts between 1500 and 3000 RPM. Based on the manufacturing date and the paperwork on the car, it was isntalled in 1989 at 40K Miles. The car now has about 120 Miles. Not bad. Hopefully the new one lasts as long.
Rick

Classic symptoms of a bad alternator. You *might* have a bad ground, but my money is on the alternator.

I should have mentioned that the real problem was the voltage regulator. I suspect I could have just replaced that and I would have corrected the problem but I figured while I was there may as well replace the alternator. Good point about the ground. I thought about that before reading the high voltages.

Alternator went in today and it appears that voltages are now under control.
Rick

Rick: I'm in the process of installing a new alternator in my 84. Did you have a spacer between the alternator and the fan? The reason I ask is that the inside portion of the fan hub is rubbing on the alternator, and I suspect I've lost a spacer.

Thanks!

Scott,
Nothing like that on mine. I would guess that if there was a shim when you removed the fan that the woodruff key would have held it in place on the alt shaft? Is it possible that the rebuilder removed it?
Rick