10-03-2018, 02:35 PM
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#1
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BusterBoxster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Maryland
Posts: 21
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Battery light
During spirited driving today the battery light came on...
Home to the garage I plugged in the diagnostic... battery test said it needed full charge to complete... ran it up to 2000 RPMs for the 20 second test on the alternator and it said insufficient charging, Voltage PID 10.81. Ran it again and got a Voltage PID if 10.62.
Don’t want to spend money unnecessarily...
The question is where to start?
Belt? Pulley? Voltage Regulator? Alternator?
Any help out there??? Looking for next step.
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10-03-2018, 03:19 PM
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Pasadena
Posts: 261
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If battery voltage is not going up while running to 13.8-14.6 I would suspect a bad internal VR which costs about $50. Pretty easy R/R but make sure you disconnect power since the Alternator is a tight fit.
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10-03-2018, 03:58 PM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 1,942
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Also check your accesory belt in good condition..? Otherise could be slipping
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10-03-2018, 04:11 PM
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#4
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"50 Years of 550 Spyder"
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: The Road
Posts: 945
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Alternator
Just install a new one. I did.
__________________
550 SE #310---"It's more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow."
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10-03-2018, 05:52 PM
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#5
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BusterBoxster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Maryland
Posts: 21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lapister
If battery voltage is not going up while running to 13.8-14.6 I would suspect a bad internal VR which costs about $50. Pretty easy R/R but make sure you disconnect power since the Alternator is a tight fit.
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Thanks, I’ll try the VR first. Just took off the cover and the belt looks to be in pretty good shape. I know the removal of the alternator is probably going to be a challenge but hopefully the new regulator will do the trick.
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10-04-2018, 04:40 AM
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#6
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1998 Boxster Silver/Red
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: 92262
Posts: 3,064
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This. ~$7.
__________________
1998 Porsche Boxster
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10-04-2018, 05:30 AM
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#7
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"50 Years of 550 Spyder"
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: The Road
Posts: 945
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Also, if you R&R the alternator, replace all of the idler pulleys, too.
I know of three Boxster fires caused by idler pulleys that seized and caused the serpentine belt to catch fire.
When I bought my 2004, she only had 25,000 miles on her. I replaced the serpentine belt at that time, and one of the idler pulleys had already started to fail.
Good luck.
__________________
550 SE #310---"It's more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow."
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10-04-2018, 12:12 PM
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#8
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BusterBoxster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Maryland
Posts: 21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 10/10ths
Also, if you R&R the alternator, replace all of the idler pulleys, too.
I know of three Boxster fires caused by idler pulleys that seized and caused the serpentine belt to catch fire.
When I bought my 2004, she only had 25,000 miles on her. I replaced the serpentine belt at that time, and one of the idler pulleys had already started to fail.
Good luck.
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Hmmm...
You’ve given me a lot to think about. So I have an 02 S with 34K miles. I now have the engine exposed top and front with the alternator laying on my tool bench, voltage regulator removed. I was thinking I would just attach the new regulator tomorrow and install, slip the belt over the pulley and see what happens. If the battery light returned I would then go the alternator route. If it stayed off, I would put all the covers back in place and take a nice weekend drive. Now I’m wondering if I should just bite the bullet and order the alternator, belt, and pulleys regardless, replace everything and have it all done???
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10-04-2018, 05:33 PM
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#9
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BusterBoxster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Maryland
Posts: 21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Starter986
This. ~$7.
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That’s Bery Cool,
I’m pretty sure I need one!
Where did you get it?
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10-04-2018, 06:10 PM
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#10
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Custom User Title Here
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ft. Leonard Wood
Posts: 6,164
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BusterB
Hmmm...
You’ve given me a lot to think about. So I have an 02 S with 34K miles. I now have the engine exposed top and front with the alternator laying on my tool bench, voltage regulator removed. I was thinking I would just attach the new regulator tomorrow and install, slip the belt over the pulley and see what happens. If the battery light returned I would then go the alternator route. If it stayed off, I would put all the covers back in place and take a nice weekend drive. Now I’m wondering if I should just bite the bullet and order the alternator, belt, and pulleys regardless, replace everything and have it all done???
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Nah...
Just replace the regulator and go for a drive if it's fixed. No need to go down the rabbit hole, especially at only 34k, unless you have reason to believe something else is bad or failing. Maybe just plan on doing the idler pulleys sometime in the future.
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10-04-2018, 07:01 PM
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: In the garage...
Posts: 1,731
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Quote:
Originally Posted by particlewave
Nah...
Just replace the regulator and go for a drive if it's fixed. No need to go down the rabbit hole, especially at only 34k, unless you have reason to believe something else is bad or failing. Maybe just plan on doing the idler pulleys sometime in the future.
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No need to go down rabbit hole but as cheap insurance I'd definitely do belt while you're in there. At only 34k it's likely never been done and at the ripe old age of 16 it's legal to drive on it's own in all 50 states - LOL. Keep old for an emergency spare just in case behind your donut in the frunk. An extra ~ $25 well spent...
Good luck 
__________________
"Cool Prius!" - Nobody
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10-04-2018, 11:30 PM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: CO
Posts: 989
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Removing the intake bolt right near the mount helps when wiggling that thing back in. My VR was visibly done when I removed it. The bushings were shot. I’ve not had any issue since I did the fix.
Last edited by Geof3; 10-04-2018 at 11:33 PM.
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10-06-2018, 03:49 PM
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#14
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BusterBoxster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Maryland
Posts: 21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lapister
If battery voltage is not going up while running to 13.8-14.6 I would suspect a bad internal VR which costs about $50. Pretty easy R/R but make sure you disconnect power since the Alternator is a tight fit.
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Yup!! $36 fix. It was indeed the Voltage Regulator. Thanks so much!
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10-06-2018, 03:53 PM
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#15
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BusterBoxster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Maryland
Posts: 21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 10/10ths
Also, if you R&R the alternator, replace all of the idler pulleys, too.
I know of three Boxster fires caused by idler pulleys that seized and caused the serpentine belt to catch fire.
When I bought my 2004, she only had 25,000 miles on her. I replaced the serpentine belt at that time, and one of the idler pulleys had already started to fail.
Good luck.
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Thanks for the heads up! I ordered the extra parts. They will arrive next week and I’ll save the install for a rainy day sometime soon.
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10-06-2018, 03:55 PM
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#16
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BusterBoxster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Maryland
Posts: 21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burg Boxster
No need to go down rabbit hole but as cheap insurance I'd definitely do belt while you're in there. At only 34k it's likely never been done and at the ripe old age of 16 it's legal to drive on it's own in all 50 states - LOL. Keep old for an emergency spare just in case behind your donut in the frunk. An extra ~ $25 well spent...
Good luck |
I agree. Ordered the belt and will throw it on.
It’s cheap piece of mind...
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10-06-2018, 03:58 PM
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#17
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BusterBoxster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Maryland
Posts: 21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Starter986
This. ~$7.
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Ordered and already delivered. It was too cool to pass up! But wondering where attached the two leads?? I’m guessing somewhere right in the fuse box.
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