fullymatted.
Back to search
986Forum

Alternator testing/replacement. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Add to repair workspace
Open repair workspace
Original source
5 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW

Discussion summary

YOUR RESEARCHAlternator testing/replacement. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Leading reported evidence

Replace alternator, and can anyone offer any advice

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

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 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 · Original poster

Has anyone replaced an alternator, and can anyone offer any advice.

Alternator testing/replacement. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Frequently discussed work

Check 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'd take it to Autozone (or whoever is the major auto parts store in your area) and have them check the alternator.

Alternator testing/replacement. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Read full discussion summary

Leading evidence: 'Replace alternator, and can anyone offer any advice' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'alternator' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check 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.

Read captured replies

1 matching discussions · 5 captured posts examined · 0 partial discussions

Compare 4 other evidence results

alternator

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Identified cause
1
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 suspect 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.

Suspected cause · Original poster

I strongly suspect a faulty alternator.

Alternator testing/replacement. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Check 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'd take it to Autozone (or whoever is the major auto parts store in your area) and have them check the alternator.

Alternator testing/replacement. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Check alternator if operational condition

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

After removal and getting toward AutoZone or Kragen or Pep Boys you'll be suprised to know that there is no machine calibrated for 2002 Porsche Boxter alternator that could actually check alternator if operational condition.

Alternator testing/replacement. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Disconnect battery

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

Disconnect the battery

Alternator testing/replacement. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners
Frequently discussed actions (8)

These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.

Check 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'd take it to Autozone (or whoever is the major auto parts store in your area) and have them check the alternator.

Alternator testing/replacement. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Check alternator if operational condition

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

After removal and getting toward AutoZone or Kragen or Pep Boys you'll be suprised to know that there is no machine calibrated for 2002 Porsche Boxter alternator that could actually check alternator if operational condition.

Alternator testing/replacement. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Disconnect battery

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

Disconnect the battery

Alternator testing/replacement. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Replace alternator has been covered several times

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

Replacing the alternator has been covered several times.

Alternator testing/replacement. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Replace alternator, and can anyone offer any advice

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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 · Original poster

Has anyone replaced an alternator, and can anyone offer any advice.

Alternator testing/replacement. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Test machine

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

Apparently Porsche using Bosch alternator that for some reason does not provide information for testing machine.

Alternator testing/replacement. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Test unit

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

Drop alternator for an auto alternaor rebuild places and asked them to test unit before rebuild if needed.

Alternator testing/replacement. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Use bosch 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

Apparently Porsche using Bosch alternator that for some reason does not provide information for testing machine.

Alternator testing/replacement. - 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.

alternator

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Identified cause
1
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Discussions that suspect 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.

Suspected cause · Original poster

I strongly suspect a faulty alternator.

Alternator testing/replacement. - 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.

5 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: 20261026T112012Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources

POST 1 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Today my 2000 2.7 Boxster broke down. The battery warning light came on, shortly followed by ABS light and then the alarm, and no power. I strongly suspect a faulty alternator. I have charged the battery, started the car and only have just over 12v with engine running. Has anyone replaced an alternator, and can anyone offer any advice. It all looks a bit tight in there. Thanks in advance.

POST 2Original post

If no one can help you here then try renntech.org. Replacing the alternator has been covered several times. You should have almost 14 volts with the engine running if the alternator is charging. Fully charge the battery and start the car. If the warning light is on with the engine running it is because your alternator is not charging. Make sure your power steering works, because otherwise it is a problem with the belt and not the alternator. It is usually the regulator that goes out. The regulator is on the back of the alternator. Porsche does not sell just the regulator. But you can buy it from Bosch or other aftermarket part suppliers. Getting to the front of the engine is not as bad as you may think. There is a service cover under the carpet behind the seats.

POST 3 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

The belts are fine, I've removed both the top and front covers the belt has not snapped and the tension is spot on. What I'm after is how to get to the top of the alternator. It looks as though I have to strip the intake side off, but how much more has to be removed? Thanks again.

POST 4Original post

I just did this and it's not that bad of a job. 1. Disconnect the battery 2. Take the belt off of the alternator pulley. No need to take the belt completely off. 3. Loosen the bolt with the idler pulley on it just a few turns. Then hit the end of the bolt with a soft blow hammer a few times. This pushes the bushing at the back of the alternator back a pinch and makes the job much easier. 4. Take the left hand bolt off (the one at roughly 7:00) 5. Now take the right hand bolt all the way out. You're going to have to wiggle it a bit to clear the firewall. 6. Rotate the alternator clockwise a bit and then rotate the pulley downward so you can get to the back of the alternator. Unplug the connector and take the nut off to take the battery cable and another wire off. It should come right out after that. I'd take it to Autozone (or whoever is the major auto parts store in your area) and have them check the alternator. This should pinpoint what is wrong with your alternator (if anything is wrong). Installation is the reverse of removal. The whole job shouldn't take more than an hour or two. My alternator checked out good, which will save me $$$$, as these things aren't cheap. My next thing is to have my near new Optima battery checked. Good luck.

POST 5Original post

Everybody interested in testing and removal of alternator. I have found two things of imortance that needs to be mention: 1. During removal I have found that WD40 will help to remove alternator out of seating. It seats pretty tight in thereeven after removal of both bolts. Twisting alternator from bottom toward up will definetelly be only way to remove alternator and you will have to wiggle it inside in order to get him out completelly. 2. After removal and getting toward AutoZone or Kragen or Pep Boys you'll be suprised to know that there is no machine calibrated for 2002 Porsche Boxter alternator that could actually check alternator if operational condition. Apparently Porsche using Bosch alternator that for some reason does not provide information for testing machine. So you will have two options: Reinstall alternator in order to check if alternator is operational OR Drop alternator for an auto alternaor rebuild places and asked them to test unit before rebuild if needed. That's exactly what I did, and alternator was in reality was OK, after being tested in Kragen and pronanunced BAD. Reinstalled alternator, make sure that you tight bolts on back of alternator with electrical red and black wire (that can crete problems if loose) and put connector tight. The best of luck

This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.