Alternator replacement |
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Alternator replacement |
914Bryan |
Sep 17 2012, 09:01 PM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 190 Joined: 6-June 11 From: Orange County Member No.: 13,162 Region Association: Southern California |
Grrrr....Just got an estimate to replace my alternator with a rebuilt Bosch unit, $577 installed and complete....Don't have time to fix it myself, and really don't know what's involved. I thought it sounded steep, but i could be way off base. Sound reasonable? Opinions from the Captin?
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Nürburg Nomad |
Sep 17 2012, 09:37 PM
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#2
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914Rubber.com! Group: Members Posts: 296 Joined: 30-March 10 From: Buckeye State Member No.: 11,536 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
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Nürburg Nomad |
Sep 17 2012, 09:51 PM
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#3
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914Rubber.com! Group: Members Posts: 296 Joined: 30-March 10 From: Buckeye State Member No.: 11,536 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
A good way to save 50%, spend $200 on a super beefy aftermarket alternator and $100 on a awesome 914 World member grill out to get it done in one evening in your driveway with fellow Teeners! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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914Bryan |
Sep 17 2012, 10:00 PM
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#4
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Member Group: Members Posts: 190 Joined: 6-June 11 From: Orange County Member No.: 13,162 Region Association: Southern California |
Exactly.. Figure a shop has to add 30% for parts so that puts the alternator you found at about 110. So that means a little over 450 to change it out? How difficult is it to check the alternator in the first place to see if it needs replacing? Considering that they had to run a diagnostic in the first place. I didn't ask shop rates, but lets say at 150 an hour, that means it would take three hours to do the job. Am I missing something here?
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Nürburg Nomad |
Sep 17 2012, 10:19 PM
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#5
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914Rubber.com! Group: Members Posts: 296 Joined: 30-March 10 From: Buckeye State Member No.: 11,536 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
Exactly.. Figure a shop has to add 30% for parts so that puts the alternator you found at about 110. So that means a little over 450 to change it out? How difficult is it to check the alternator in the first place to see if it needs replacing? Considering that they had to run a diagnostic in the first place. I didn't ask shop rates, but lets say at 150 an hour, that means it would take three hours to do the job. Am I missing something here? For me the quote they gave you is unreasonable but not unrealistic or surprising... consider "retail" is $240+ for example, if they charge that plus whatever labor, it could quickly be the $550-600 you were quoted. Depending on the shop, given lack of knowledge and amount of time it will take to perform work on vintage cars seeing high prices is par for the course, hence classic car ownership being so much more affordable busting your own knuckles. Time to grab the wrenches?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) |
Thestigz06 |
Sep 17 2012, 10:19 PM
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#6
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Aspiring Jarhead Group: Members Posts: 238 Joined: 22-February 11 From: Temecula, CA Member No.: 12,749 Region Association: Southern California |
Very timely bryan!
I just replaced mine about a month ago. Its not horrible and could be avoided as well. Before you do anything,check all your grounds and make sure the connections are solid and also check the voltage regulator on the relay board to make sure its not those. If both are fine then yes, your alt is on its way out. |
Dave_Darling |
Sep 17 2012, 10:21 PM
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#7
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914 Idiot Group: Members Posts: 14,985 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona Member No.: 121 Region Association: Northern California |
You need to remove the left-side heater ducting, the left-front engine tin (those screws can be a pain in the tight space under there!), and the pinch bolt and pivot bolt.
It shouldn't take a whole afternoon, unless you work very slowly indeed or do it wrong. The first three times. (D'OH! Not that I'm bitter.) You need access from the bottom and from the top. I put the car up on jack stands (of course!) and used a step-stool to get into the engine bay from the top side. I got pretty good at it... --DD |
Nürburg Nomad |
Sep 17 2012, 10:24 PM
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#8
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914Rubber.com! Group: Members Posts: 296 Joined: 30-March 10 From: Buckeye State Member No.: 11,536 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
Very timely bryan! I just replaced mine about a month ago. Its not horrible and could be avoided as well. Before you do anything,check all your grounds and make sure the connections are solid and also check the voltage regulator on the relay board to make sure its not those. If both are fine then yes, your alt is on its way out. I agree ^^^, I almost forgot, I thought my alternator was shot when I first acquired my 914, turned out it was the sketchy main ground, -$20 and a few minutes later it was resolved. |
euro911 |
Sep 18 2012, 12:29 AM
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#9
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Retired & living the dream. God help me if I wake up! Group: Members Posts: 8,849 Joined: 2-December 06 From: So.Cal. & No.AZ (USA) Member No.: 7,300 Region Association: Southern California |
As long as one guy has done it before, two guys can change it out in an hour or so, depending on how much BS-ing you do while doing it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)
The first one I did, I got everything unbolted and ready to come out and had a neighbor (with no 914 knowledge) come by to assist from top-side while I was under the car. A long 3/8" socket extension comes in handy for getting at the pivot bolt's nut from the back side. |
shelby/914 |
Sep 18 2012, 09:29 AM
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#10
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 804 Joined: 24-August 05 From: Foxfield, Co Member No.: 4,655 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
If you are doing it by yourself, tie it off through one of the bolt holes to something above. Then when you are under the car your not trying to hold the unit up with one hand while attaching wiring and lining up the bolts with the other. A friend would make it easy.
Dan |
euro911 |
Sep 18 2012, 09:57 AM
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#11
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Retired & living the dream. God help me if I wake up! Group: Members Posts: 8,849 Joined: 2-December 06 From: So.Cal. & No.AZ (USA) Member No.: 7,300 Region Association: Southern California |
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Elliot Cannon |
Sep 18 2012, 10:12 AM
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#12
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914 Guru Group: Retired Members Posts: 8,487 Joined: 29-December 06 From: Paso Robles Ca. (Central coast) Member No.: 7,407 Region Association: None |
During the Atomic Ramble in Albequerque I watched Mark b do it in the parking lot. Kind of a pain but not that hard.
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SLITS |
Sep 18 2012, 10:21 AM
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#13
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"This Utah shit is HARSH!" Group: Benefactors Posts: 13,602 Joined: 22-February 04 From: SoCal Mountains ... Member No.: 1,696 Region Association: None |
Charge your battery fully.
Purchase and bring the alternator with you. Drive the car to Riverside on a Sunday to Slits Asshole Garage & Polygamy Learning Center. I will change it for you for the cost of a 12 pack of Hanger 24 Amarillo Ale, a 750 ml bottle Tanquery Gin, 1 L of Tonic Water , a pack of Johnsonville Brats and buns. But, before you purchase the alternator, get a VOM (volt ohm meter). Check the battery voltage (12.5 VDC hopefully). Start the car, check lead to battery with VOM again. If it shows 13.5 VDC or better, the alternator is fine. |
Elliot Cannon |
Sep 18 2012, 10:24 AM
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#14
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914 Guru Group: Retired Members Posts: 8,487 Joined: 29-December 06 From: Paso Robles Ca. (Central coast) Member No.: 7,407 Region Association: None |
Charge your battery fully. Purchase and bring the alternator with you. Drive the car to Riverside on a Sunday to Slits Asshole Garage & Polygamy Learning Center. I will change it for you for the cost of a 12 pack of Hanger 24 Amarillo Ale, a 750 ml bottle Tanquery Gin, 1 L of Tonic Water , a pack of Johnsonville Brats and buns. But, before you purchase the alternator, get a VOM (volt ohm meter). Check the battery voltage (12.5 VDC hopefully). Start the car, check lead to battery with VOM again. If it shows 13.5 VDC or better, the alternator is fine. Your labor charges are OUTRAGEOUS!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) |
Drums66 |
Sep 18 2012, 11:04 AM
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#15
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914 Rudiments Group: Members Posts: 5,321 Joined: 15-January 03 From: Coronado,Cali Member No.: 151 Region Association: Southwest Region |
Charge your battery fully. Purchase and bring the alternator with you. Drive the car to Riverside on a Sunday to Slits Asshole Garage & Polygamy Learning Center. I will change it for you for the cost of a 12 pack of Hanger 24 Amarillo Ale, a 750 ml bottle Tanquery Gin, 1 L of Tonic Water , a pack of Johnsonville Brats and buns. But, before you purchase the alternator, get a VOM (volt ohm meter). Check the battery voltage (12.5 VDC hopefully). Start the car, check lead to battery with VOM again. If it shows 13.5 VDC or better, the alternator is fine. Your labor charges are OUTRAGEOUS!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) Hey! the Tanquery....Brats & Lucy's buns are well worth it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) |
turk22 |
Sep 18 2012, 07:04 PM
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#16
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Treetop Flyer Group: Members Posts: 735 Joined: 27-July 12 From: Cincinnati OH Member No.: 14,725 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
Charge your battery fully. Purchase and bring the alternator with you. Drive the car to Riverside on a Sunday to Slits Asshole Garage & Polygamy Learning Center. I will change it for you for the cost of a 12 pack of Hanger 24 Amarillo Ale, a 750 ml bottle Tanquery Gin, 1 L of Tonic Water , a pack of Johnsonville Brats and buns. But, before you purchase the alternator, get a VOM (volt ohm meter). Check the battery voltage (12.5 VDC hopefully). Start the car, check lead to battery with VOM again. If it shows 13.5 VDC or better, the alternator is fine. Gin and Brats? I thought it was Gin and juice... wish I lived in SoCal |
914Bryan |
Sep 18 2012, 10:55 PM
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#17
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Member Group: Members Posts: 190 Joined: 6-June 11 From: Orange County Member No.: 13,162 Region Association: Southern California |
Charge your battery fully. Purchase and bring the alternator with you. Drive the car to Riverside on a Sunday to Slits Asshole Garage & Polygamy Learning Center. I will change it for you for the cost of a 12 pack of Hanger 24 Amarillo Ale, a 750 ml bottle Tanquery Gin, 1 L of Tonic Water , a pack of Johnsonville Brats and buns. But, before you purchase the alternator, get a VOM (volt ohm meter). Check the battery voltage (12.5 VDC hopefully). Start the car, check lead to battery with VOM again. If it shows 13.5 VDC or better, the alternator is fine. Wow! For an offer like that, I will definitely take you up on it. This Sunday won't work but the Sunday after will. I will give you a call. Gotta bring the wife along. Even though she has a big rack, she won't get in the way. Thanks! |
Tom |
Sep 19 2012, 02:58 AM
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#18
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,139 Joined: 21-August 05 From: Port Orchard, WA 98367 Member No.: 4,626 Region Association: None |
Just do not pay Slits before the work is done. Well, maybe the brats as partial payment. Keep the beer and liquor back or ---- , well, you know.
Hi Slits (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) Tom |
76-914 |
Sep 19 2012, 08:59 AM
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#19
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Repeat Offender & Resident Subaru Antagonist Group: Members Posts: 13,501 Joined: 23-January 09 From: Temecula, CA Member No.: 9,964 Region Association: Southern California |
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SLITS |
Sep 19 2012, 09:06 AM
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#20
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"This Utah shit is HARSH!" Group: Benefactors Posts: 13,602 Joined: 22-February 04 From: SoCal Mountains ... Member No.: 1,696 Region Association: None |
Charge your battery fully. Purchase and bring the alternator with you. Drive the car to Riverside on a Sunday to Slits Asshole Garage & Polygamy Learning Center. I will change it for you for the cost of a 12 pack of Hanger 24 Amarillo Ale, a 750 ml bottle Tanquery Gin, 1 L of Tonic Water , a pack of Johnsonville Brats and buns. But, before you purchase the alternator, get a VOM (volt ohm meter). Check the battery voltage (12.5 VDC hopefully). Start the car, check lead to battery with VOM again. If it shows 13.5 VDC or better, the alternator is fine. Wow! For an offer like that, I will definitely take you up on it. This Sunday won't work but the Sunday after will. I will give you a call. Gotta bring the wife along. Even though she has a big rack, she won't get in the way. Thanks! Not a problem ... I'll make sure the floors are swept. On Sundays, I am generally here at 9:00 AM. It can be done on a Saturday, but not the upcoming one as I am ridding myself of electronic devices at a local recycling event. |
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