Replaced My Alternator!!!!!!

[SeaDweller]

Well, I feel as giddy as a 13 year old girl with a new Malibu Barbie, and I just have to gloat a little!

I finally worked up the courage to tackle a project on the 911SC, and replaced the alternator. I took my time, and was very patient, and things went without a hitch (well, a few of small one's). The few minor setbacks were:

1. The alternator shroud had some defects that required me to replace it.
2. The replacement was a mess, so I spent a good hour wire brushing the metal fins and cleaning it.
3. Despite having towels on every piece of exposed metal, I scratched the paint on the fan shroud while putting the assembly back in (which caused the only curse word during the whole project).

Otherwise, the project was quite enjoyable and very straightforward. One curve that I encountered was that I had to remove the alternator shroud to remove the fan/alternator assembly. The metal fins prevented removal otherwise. I was sure I'd lose half of the washers and nuts on the shroud in the process, but I only dropped one!

To finish it off, I masked/papered off the engine area, fan, etc., and re-sprayed the scratched part of the fan housing, so the project is completed.

I also replaced my turn signal relay, and I really hope this cures the glowing turn signal indicator issue I've had since buying the car.

Thanks for the input everyone!! I may graduate to rebuilding my engine or transmission with the help of this board someday!!!!!!!!

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Michael
'78 911SC Euro

[jabb]

Congratulations.... Good job.

With a liitle time and patients these cars are not that big a mystery to work on, of course being able to have access to this board is a big help. Last time a friend had his Altenator replaced the bill was $600.

Look at the money you saved.

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• Joe A.
• 84 911 Targa
• 75 914/6 3.0

[cabman]

hey, thanks for the post!


my 83sc has 112K miles and Im wondering when I have to do my alternator. what are some of the symptoms for doing a replacement?

how many miles does your car have, may I ask?

[SeaDweller]

I was getting some bearing noise, and decided to intervene before I found myself walking.

My car has 340K kilometers on it, but I just put in a new/rebuilt '83 3.0L with less than 3,000 miles on it.

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Michael
'78 911SC Euro

[Superman]

Congratulations! Now, there should be few projects you would not consider doing yourself. Freedom!

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'83 SC

[jsmarcus]

Glad to hear you did it yourself! I've pulled my fan housing 2X. The first time to replace the alternator brushes, only to find I had the wrong part, and later that same day to put in the correct one.

As for replacement, and with everything else, proper maintenance will chance the frequency of such. I only had to replace the brushes. Total cost of job? $50. Time it took? Well, about 15 minutes. What is the book time????

If your electrical has peaks and valleys of brightness, change the brushes. If they are about 1 inch new, then mine were less than a 1/4 inch. Did wonders.

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Josh
Black on Black '84 Carrera

[wckrause]

Congrats Michael!

I know that feeling of accomplishment. I did very little work on my P-car myself before stumbling upon this BBS. Now there is nothing that I don't feel I can tackle (with the proper help).

I just can't wait for those head studs to snap!!!(OK, that's a bit of an exaggeration)

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Bill Krause
'79 911SC Euro
MY PELICAN GALLERY