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Posted by: Joseph Mills Oct 25 2004, 06:42 PM

not quite "correct".

Only happens when the engine is cold. I'm pretty sure it's the alternator.

Anyone else have an alternator that is occasionally noisey?

I assume it's a bearing. Do I just let it go? Or will it screwup the unit even further?

Do I just have to replace it with a rebuilt unit?

Posted by: vsg914 Oct 25 2004, 06:47 PM

Your alternator bearing is going out. PITA to replace.

Posted by: Headrage Oct 25 2004, 07:02 PM

It may be a bearing. The alternator is a likely source.

Posted by: vsg914 Oct 25 2004, 07:08 PM

Joseph, do I need to come down with my sthetiscope? Do I hear a road trip coming up? It's been a whole week since the ramble!

Posted by: Joseph Mills Oct 25 2004, 07:20 PM

Ha! Still got the Tour Monkey on your back don'cha!

Me too. I did a "cruise" with the VW folks last weekend to the Rt. 66 museum. Friendly folks that luvs their volks!

So do I replace just the bearing, or the entire alternator?

And cost will be....???

Posted by: vsg914 Oct 25 2004, 07:26 PM

Replace the alternator. I have one waiting to picked up from my rebuilder. $85.00. He builds them guud!

I took another tour as well this weekend. Had a very nice day with the bartender from the WaterZ edge!!!!

How about a Talimena drive tour in the next few weeks?????????

Posted by: Joe Ricard Oct 25 2004, 07:34 PM

most altenator repair shops can doa bearig and test the entire unit for less than that. I had my 928 alt rebuilt with new volt regulator for 75 bucks.
Our volt regulators are not even on the alt. I think the remove replace effort is fairly easy. and can be done while engine is still in the car.

Loosen the fan tension binder bolt pull the belt. 2 bolts and it is out. one on top that holds bracket to fan housing and the pivot bolt at the bottom. pull the plug at the circuit board and bam on the ground. Oh don't forget to disconnect the battery.

Posted by: Joseph Mills Oct 25 2004, 07:40 PM

Did you go wide and deep in the curves?


Talimena Drive? Mongo likes very much.


I think I'll wait on the alternator until it keeps making noise even after it is warm.

Posted by: vsg914 Oct 25 2004, 07:42 PM

Most alt shops replace only the parts necessary to get the unit to minimum output specs. Paul is a bosch authorized repair point and builds them to better than factory specs. He also builds high torque starters.

Posted by: Curvie Roadlover Oct 25 2004, 07:50 PM

When I heard a whirring coming from my engine compartment, a stethescope diagnosed my noise as coming from the distributor. A couple of drops of oil down the shaft stopped it.

Posted by: Joseph Mills Oct 25 2004, 08:20 PM

Thanks Tom. I'll check that out tomorrow.

One can always hope.

Posted by: Qarl Oct 25 2004, 08:49 PM

Maybe the gerbils got a hold of some coke and are working overtime!

Posted by: Joe Ricard Oct 26 2004, 05:56 AM

Although it could be something in the fan or rubbing it the wrong way. just throw a gerbil in the cooling fan It's like a turbo charger.

Posted by: Joseph Mills Oct 26 2004, 08:27 AM

Maybe gerbils do coke in Florida Quarl, but around here they would most likely get into some Moonshine.

Can someone, with experience, please describe the sound I should listen for from drunk gerbils in a type 4 cooling fan.

I gotta' get to the bottom of this.

Posted by: Root_Werks Oct 26 2004, 08:45 AM

Well, if your Gerbils are doing coke, they will have a tendecy to fall off leaving work for the others, so you might notice a loss in power from time to time. If they are drunk, each time you pull up to a stop sign listen closely as you might hear a "burp" once in a while.

That is about the only way I know to tell the difference. Either way, get them into re-hab asap so they continue to give you many trouble free miles.