9 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHAlternators what's the difference ? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Reported or suspected cause
regulator
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that report identifying a cause
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Reported cause
i'm sure it was the regulator but since i was in a tough spot (1300 miles from home, 100 miles from a dealer / p-car shop) i decided to just replace the entire alternator with a rebuilt one from o'reilly.
Alternators what's the difference ? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Frequently discussed work
Replace entire alternator
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
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Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
i'm sure it was the regulator but since i was in a tough spot (1300 miles from home, 100 miles from a dealer / p-car shop) i decided to just replace the entire alternator with a rebuilt one from o'reilly.
Alternators what's the difference ? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Read full discussion summary
Leading evidence: 'regulator' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'regulator' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace entire alternator' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
It's a common part used on VWs, Audi and Mercedes.
Alternators what's the difference ? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Replace entire alternator
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
i'm sure it was the regulator but since i was in a tough spot (1300 miles from home, 100 miles from a dealer / p-car shop) i decided to just replace the entire alternator with a rebuilt one from o'reilly.
Alternators what's the difference ? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Replace regulator or both and you are done
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Alternators what's the difference ? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Replace vr
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
I ended up just replacing the VR with a new Bosch unit for $45 from a local starter and alternator shop.
Alternators what's the difference ? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Frequently discussed actions (4)
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
Replace entire alternator
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
i'm sure it was the regulator but since i was in a tough spot (1300 miles from home, 100 miles from a dealer / p-car shop) i decided to just replace the entire alternator with a rebuilt one from o'reilly.
Alternators what's the difference ? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Reported and suspected causes (1)
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
regulator
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Discussions that report identifying a cause
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Reported cause
i'm sure it was the regulator but since i was in a tough spot (1300 miles from home, 100 miles from a dealer / p-car shop) i decided to just replace the entire alternator with a rebuilt one from o'reilly.
Alternators what's the difference ? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Coverage and how to read this overview
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
9 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
986Forum: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261027T033922Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
I have an 03 with a trip transmission and my alternator went out. I called up the local independent Porsche shop and was quoted 1600.00 for a alternator. Needless to say I laughed at the guy. So my question is I did some research and prices are all over the place from sub 200 at the parts store to 400 at pelican and beyond. This car is a weekend driver.
Any advice on what route to go?
Go with a reputable Porsche parts supplier like Pelican. They know these cars and stand behind what they sell. Stay away from the O'Reily's, Pep Boys, Napa's, etc. They don't have a clue in generally about Porsches.
Are you sure it's the alternator and not the voltage regulator? They are well known to fail. Unfortunately it's stuck on the back of the alternator. They are around $40 IIRC.
Yep on the voltage regulator. Unless the alternator shaft has wobble, the usual suspect is the regulator. It's a common part used on VWs, Audi and Mercedes. Do a search and you'll find part numbers from Bosch; they are under $50 and fairly easy to install. I did mine several years back after the car came from winter storage...battery light went on and I got out the multimeter. Think the reading was only around 11 volts, when it should be at least 14.
With all due respect to one of the earlier replies,
Porsche does not make alternators. Electrically, there is absolutely nothing special about the Boxster alternator and no need to pay stupid prices.
This isn't a hard job and double work is not necessary. I did this job for the first in May 2013 in my driveway. I ended up just replacing the VR with a new Bosch unit for $45 from a local starter and alternator shop.
Remove your alternator and have it tested at any auto parts store. You will know weather you have a bad regulator or bad alternator.
Replace the regulator or both and you are done.
'01 tip...
my alternator went out 4 years ago on a road trip. i'm sure it was the regulator but since i was in a tough spot (1300 miles from home, 100 miles from a dealer / p-car shop) i decided to just replace the entire alternator with a rebuilt one from o'reilly.
did the work myself, part was $240. so far, zero issues from the alternator.
i had a rattle for a bit because i hadn't tightened one of the bolts enough, easy fix once i got home.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
