Searching for a voltage regulator in Nashville

schabelmj · 07-06-2015, 06:06 AM

My voltage regulator on my new-to-me '88 911 died while en route from NJ to TX. I am stuck in Nashville and am trying to get back on the road. This part is turning out to be pretty hard to find. If any Pelican members in the area happen to have a spare or know where I might locate one, I'd appreciate the assist so I can get back on the road.

Apologies in advance for the minimal posting on this forum - I have been watching the forum for years but never had a reason to post.

911ducktail · 07-06-2015, 08:38 AM

ran a polaris check on 91160391301 and the closest dealer to Nashville that might have one is in Hilton Head, SC. Since your stuck call up Pelican and have them overnight you one - thats pretty much your only option unless you start calling all of these guys and they have an old one laying around

http://www.pcarshops.com/near/nashville-tn

Pelican Alternator page

good luck

wwest · wwest's Garage

"pretty hard to find..."

Wasn't the '88 VR internal to the alternator....?

In which case ANY auto parts retailer is likely to have one in stock.

What are the symptoms, over charging or under?

If it is the common over charging problem then there is a way you could drive home.

Disconnect the "VR" (***) and reduce the electrical loads and drive until the engine starts to stutter.

Reconnect the VR and drive far enough to be comfortable that the battery is recharged but not significantly overcharged.....

Repeat the sequence until you get home.

You'll be surprised how the car will go on a fully (over) charged battery....

*** Removing the charge/discharged indicator bulb will generally "disconnect the VR".

Jesse16 · Jesse16's Garage

I've got one in my parts box here in Boone, NC that fits my 87's alternator, 5 hours away probably. If you are desperate, rent a car and drive over and get it. Purchased from Pelican several years back after mine failed. At that time I was in Greenville, SC and it was cheaper for me to rent a car and drive home leaving my car at the hotel, stay home overnight and drive back the next AM and fix it. Saved the room cost so cost wise it was a wash.

schabelmj · 07-06-2015, 12:10 PM

Good news - found the part and replaced.
Bad news - now an hour outside of Nashville and on the side of the road. Dead battery. I must have cooked the battery while in an over-charge state to the point where it can't take a charge. A jump got it running again for about 1/4 of a mile before I could get no response out of the throttle - barely would idle. currently waiting for a tow so I can get a replacement battery.

wwest · wwest's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by schabelmj

Good news - found the part and replaced.
Bad news - now an hour outside of Nashville and on the side of the road. Dead battery. I must have cooked the battery while in an over-charge state to the point where it can't take a charge. A jump got it running again for about 1/4 of a mile before I could get no response out of the throttle - barely would idle. currently waiting for a tow so I can get a replacement battery.

Sorry to say.....

Battery is not likely to be the problem.

If alternator were working the engine should run.

Check the connection at the starter solenoid...

schabelmj · 07-06-2015, 01:22 PM

At an autozone. Battery was dead as a door nail. They are charging to see if it is cooked or not, which will either get me a fully refreshed battery or a swap. Once I get the car running (hopefully), I can see if alternator is working properly.

I'll check out the coil now to see if that is plugged in properly or if a able broke.

schabelmj · 07-06-2015, 03:22 PM

Turns out that the battery was dead. I had overcharged to the point that the now properly working alternator couldn't recharge it. When battery died on the road, the dme stopped delivering fuel. New battery, confirmed good alternator, and I'm back on the road - smooth sailing for the last 80 miles.

I'll be picking up a spare regulator for any future road trips. Hopefully, no more failures on this voyage.

wwest · wwest's Garage

You installed a new, FULLY CHARGED battery.... wait

I once boiled ALL of the electrolyte from the battery in our 88, refilled with water, jump started, drove 240 miles with ALL the electrical loads the '88 could "muster" to keep the alternator from boiling the battery.

I still think your alternator is not charging the battery... time & miles will tell

wwest · wwest's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by schabelmj

Turns out that the battery was dead. I had overcharged to the point that

the now properly working alternator couldn't recharge it.

Recharge or no, if the alternator is working the engine should run, the only short-coming would be on a restart, your battery probably couldn't carry that much load.

When battery died on the road, the dme stopped delivering fuel. New battery, confirmed good alternator, and I'm back on the road - smooth sailing for the last 80 miles.

I'll be picking up a spare regulator for any future road trips. Hopefully, no more failures on this voyage.

wwest · wwest's Garage

I'm confused, 1988 911...?

You seem to dismiss the task of replacing the VR as trivia..

With the 88 you MUST remove the alternator to replace the VR, not a trivial job by any means.

Did you by mean 1978??

schabelmj · 07-06-2015, 04:28 PM

No, 88. It's about a 60 min job. 00 without the right tools.

Wwest / I think you are right. I've been thinking about the circuit and the alternator should run everything. Next town, I'll find an autozone and check battery life. It was charging at idle. Maybe the belt slippong at speed? Ugh.

schabelmj · 07-06-2015, 05:17 PM

I just stopped by and the alternator shows as putting out 11.8v. Perhaps the alternator is dead or the regulator that I just put in is shot is regulating low. I think it must be the regulator as it seems unlikely that I would be overcharging on the previous vr only to undercharge this time - unless I didn't put it back together properly. Either way, the minute I turn on headlights for the night, the battery will be toast again.
Done for the night, and will get a fresh charge first thing in the morning. If I'm careful, I might be able to limp the rest of the way to Dallas tomorrow. Not a good p-car day, but not the end of the world.

SCadaddle · 07-06-2015, 05:44 PM

Where are you now relative to Meridian MS?

schabelmj · 07-06-2015, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCadaddle

Where are you now relative to Meridian MS?

We're about 300 miles north west. Thanks for asking though!

SCadaddle · 07-06-2015, 06:19 PM

Oh, I see. You took the wrong way.

schabelmj · 07-06-2015, 06:26 PM

Wwest / my post about swapping out the vr didn't come out right. It took me about 90 minutes as I didn't have the right wrench for taking off the 3 small nuts that hold the diverter to the back of the alternator. It's not an easy job and not trivial. I only went for it because I've done the job before on an 87, and knew what I was up against.

77Targa0912 · 77Targa0912's Garage

I'm guessing you are past Memphis and in Little Rock by now. There are several great shops in the Memphis area that could have helped you out.

schabelmj · 07-07-2015, 04:50 AM

I just picked up a second battery and fully charging both before getting on the road. I got a couple hundred miles on the first battery without failing (and it didn't start at 100%). If I have to switch batteries on the road, I'm covered and will recharge at the next stop. Not ideal, but it should get me home so I can fix her up properly.

turbo owner · turbo owner's Garage

Did you energize the new voltage regulator? Gotta do that before it will charge.