How to identify 3.2 alternator make?

[midlife]

Hi,

I suspect my voltage regulator is going out on my 1984 3.2. (Lights varying brightness.)

I want to order a new regulator from our host. They list only for Marchal alternators. Is there a way to tell if it is a Marchal without removing it?

I am only in the country for a few days, and I need to drive the car. I don't want to take it apart until I have the parts to put it back together.

Thanks,

Mike

[gregwils]

I am pretty sure they are all Marchal's from the factory, but you can purchase a remanufactured unit with Bosch internals. The regulator is internal and not available separately, you're looking at a new alternator. You'll probably want to limit your driving until you replace it so you don't run the risk of toasting any part of your electrical system or overcharging your battery.

[midlife]

Greg,

Thanks for the reply. I will go ahead and order the regulator.

I'm trying to keep the driving to the essentials in the mean time.

Mike

[Wil Ferch]

I think this advice is wrong....all 3.2's should have Paris-Rhone ( aka Valeo, ) alternators with embedded/internal voltage regulators. Stock OEM or HUCO are typical brand names for VR's that fit 3.2's.

Also the point that these Voltage regulators are not available separately is also wrong.....they are...and I wrote a technical repair/replace article on alternators/voltage regulators specifically for 3.2's.--->

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_volt_reg_replace/911_volt_reg_replace.htm

[midlife]

Wil,


I think the confusion comes from Pelican listing the VR's for Marchal.




Is this an error? A competitors catalog only lists VR's for Paris Rhone.


Thanks for the Technical article.

Mike

[304065]

Look on the back of the alternator, it says the manufacturer.

But before you do any of that, what is the voltage at the battery with the engine off? With the engine running? The lights are not by themselves an indicator of electrical system faults.

[Wil Ferch]

Well.... first of all...the VR is indeed available as a separate unit....unlike the posting from someone here saying it wasn't.

Second....the proper part number for the VR from Porsche parts books is 911.603.913.01. This is good for 84-89....actually 82-89 once you verify it's an internal unit for the SC's.

This seems to match the Pelican listing....of course suffix M2XX may indicate cloned part from another sub-supplier like HUCO.

[KNS]

I pulled a Bosch AL401 out of my Carrera (it had been rebuilt many years ago) and installed a remanufactered Bosch back in it. I'd rather have the Bosch than the Marchal. I understand the fit may be different? I remember seeing the Bosch AL401X (reman) for the Carrera available at Autozone but I found it a little cheaper locally.

[drl911]

FWIW - I just put a Valeo VR in my '86 3.2 due to varying voltage readings and headlight brightness. Not a hard job, but takes about 1 hour.

[gregwils]

I apologize for the wrong info, definitely go with Wil's advice. The one part that is correct is that you can purchase a rebuilt alternator with Bosch internals. Mine came with a two year warranty for about $250 w/core.

[Wil Ferch]

Greg:
No apologies necessary for honest miscues on this board.....I offered the correcton simply because these threads are often used as reference sources many years down the pike... no worries...
Cheers....