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Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHAnother alternator problem/question
Leading reported evidence
Check idlers first, if you trust the shop
Suggestion or failed attempt
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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1
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Suggestion
very rare for altrnator noise, id be sure to check the idlers first, if you trust the shop then trust them if not find someone else
Leading evidence: 'Check idlers first, if you trust the shop' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check idlers first, if you trust the shop' (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.
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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.
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Suggestion
the idler pulley bearings are a prty common failure 9/10 times its the upper one, take out your air cleaner make sure the maf wire is out of the way of the belts, start the car, use a pry bar or long screw driver to touch the center bolt of each idler and place the handle to your ear (stay clear of moving parts Im not liable if you stick your tie in the belt) u will hear where the noise is coming from, also listen to the alternator case
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
the idler pulley bearings are a prty common failure 9/10 times its the upper one, take out your air cleaner make sure the maf wire is out of the way of the belts, start the car, use a pry bar or long screw driver to touch the center bolt of each idler and place the handle to your ear (stay clear of moving parts Im not liable if you stick your tie in the belt) u will hear where the noise is coming from, also listen to the alternator case
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.
11 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T152433Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
I know there is another new thread about the same topic, but this is a different question. I recently noticed my engine making a (expensive) new sound - like a bearing going bad. My local indie says it is the alternator going bad ($900 for part + 2 hours labor). Evidently cost & labor are fair but has anyone else had an altenator go bad after 20,000 miles or is this an age issue because the car is a MY01? I'm not having any voltage problems, so unfortunately it isn't just a regulator. Can an alternator be rebuilt to fix a bad bearing or do I just pony up for a new one?
Thanks for any insight
Idlers? Not sure what they are but I'll do a search - thanks.
I do trust the shop but an alternator going bad after 20K seems odd. I realize it is over 5 yrs old, but still.
Just brought my 01' 996 into Pioneer Porsche for the same problem. Not sure of the cost since I bought an extended warranty 2 years ago. It hopefully will be covered under the GE warranty.
Unfortunately mine is a bad bearing-type/metal on metal kind of sound and not just a squeal, however I will probably be squealing a little if I have to get a new alternator.
Dennis - how many miles on your 01?
the idler pulley bearings are a prty common failure 9/10 times its the upper one, take out your air cleaner make sure the maf wire is out of the way of the belts, start the car, use a pry bar or long screw driver to touch the center bolt of each idler and place the handle to your ear (stay clear of moving parts Im not liable if you stick your tie in the belt) u will hear where the noise is coming from, also listen to the alternator case
http://www.911pcar.com/images_Porsch...s/IMG_4303.JPG
the 2 smaller rusty pulleys in that picture the right is the tensioner the left is an ider and there is a 2nd idler that is held by the inboard alternator bolt, missing in that picture
