New Kid on the Block - IN DUBAI

[BoxsterSS]

New Kid on the Block - IN DUBAI

---

Posting from Dubai. Just got my first Porsche, Boxster 2.7L, 2002 - Got the car from Miami, has 30K miles - had the dealer check it and heres what they had to say: * Major service: (Oil change / Airfilter Change / Spark Plug change) top off other necessary fluids (Asking $900 for this service) * Change Alternator (since the Battery keeps draining out completely) - (Asking $1800 for part + labor) After a few hours on this forum - Questions: * Is it wise to spend $900 on the service? * I thi

---

• Author
  BoxsterSS
• Category
  Boxster (986) - Common Fixes and Repairs
• Submitted
  11/11/2004 08:48 AM

 

Edited February 20, 2010 by BoxsterSS

[porscheneer]

Getting to the engine bay should be in your owners manual. Is there a Porsche a dealership there? 3 weeks seems long for an alternator?

Is the car manual.. the alternators are different for tip tronic

check into this & welcome to the site.

Edited November 11, 2004 by porscheneer

[BoxsterSS]

Thanks! No I had no owners manual, but I have it now from this forum, so I can access the Engine bay no problems at all.

What remains is if I should attempt an Alternator change on my own, or is this too complicated?

We do have a local dealer - but they need 3 weeks, the part is not in stock for whatever reason, and they are charging a fortune! Imagine $1800 for it. Could you let me know if this requires a special tool?

While I have your attention, I got NGK & Autolite spark plugs, is it OK to use them or should I stick to OEM?

Thanks for your help in advance.

Happy driving :drive:

[porscheneer]

Based on what I have read I would stick with the OEM plugs,

is there a reputable independant garage that works on Porche's?

If so than I would see if this place will ship overseas http://catalog.autopartsperformance.com/

and get the independant garage to put it in. I doubt the porshe service at the dealer will put in parts other than their own.

[BoxsterSS]

Done. I stick to OEM Plugs. Yes I found 1 independent garage for Porsche, but they too are asking crazy prices for the Alternator - also asking for 3 weeks, suspect if they are buying also from the dealer.

Guessing by the number of Porsches on the road in Dubai and the lack of proper Porsche garages pretty much explains why the Porsche agent has a fancy 80,000 sqft service center!

Thanks for the URL http://catalog.autopartsperformance.com/, I'll have the Alternator shipped.

I have an the Tiptronic Transmission - will replacing the Alternator require a special tool?

porscheneer - you have been very helpful thanks! :thumbup:

[adsach]

Posting from Dubai. Just got my first Porsche, Boxster 2.7L, 2002 - Got the car from Miami, has 30K miles - had the dealer check it and heres what they had to say:

* Major service: (Oil change / Airfilter Change / Spark Plug change) top off other necessary fluids (Asking $900 for this service)

* Change Alternator (since the Battery keeps draining out completely) - (Asking $1800 for part + labor)

. . .

Anyone of you in Dubai?  :help:  I need it BIG TIME

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Since this car is new to you, and not in perfect condition, I would spend the $900 for a 30K service. In the long run, having the thorough inspection is probably worth it for your first service. It is better to find problems early than discover them stranded away from town on a 45 degree day.

Changing alternator - If this car were still in the US, the alternator would be covered under US warrantee. Ask your dealer to explain why this is not covered. If the answer is not totally convincing, it is reasonable to ask the Porsche Regional rep for an explanation.

I'm not from Dubai, so all of the above is based on a US perspective.

[BoxsterSS]

adsach! thats one thing I didnt think of! Porsche AG has a regional office in Dubai -I'll take this up with them.

Thanks for taking the time to answer!

Ciao

[mikey99n]

Are you still in the Miami area?

If so, use a local porsche tech, there are tons in Miami. The dealer rips the heck out of you.

If you are still in or near the Miami area, I can give you the phone # of the guy I use here.

- Mike

[BoxsterSS]

Mike, I already moved to Dubai - here I have just been able to locate 1 single independent Porsche specialist, they too, looking at dealers, have hiked up the prices like nuts!

Oh well - I think I should get into this business...

thanks for your offer of help!

SS

Edited November 14, 2004 by BoxsterSS

[porscheneer]

So what happened did they replace it under warr. or did you ship the rebuilt one from U.S

Im curious?

[BoxsterSS]

Porsche Middle East said that the car is under warranty for two years ONLY, since mines a month past the warranty they couldn't do much to help.

I finally got the whole thing figured out and fixed. Gathered up the courage to take the job up myself, took apart the Alternator - what I found is very interesting...all I had to do was replace a voltage regulator and the Alternator worked like new!

I took pics of the whole process, will post it here in a couple of days along with the part # etc - I'll send you a note informing you as soon as I post it.

Thanks for your curiosity

I am so jumpy I am back on the road :jump:

[porscheneer]

Sweet

[dejavo0]

I'm curious to see how this is done. Please let us know when they are posted :)

[BoxsterSS]

Replacing the Alternator on a Boxster is easy for anyone who has a basic toolset and about 2 - 3 hours to spare.

Take a few minutes to read the following note before you purchase a new Alternator. A new alternator can cost you anywhere between $500 to $800, but 10 minute check can save you hundreds. Here's how:

Alternators have 4 major components:

* Alternator core (the wire winding and the entire Alternator body)

* Bearing (what the shaft and the pulley rotate on)

* Voltage Regulator (rectangular component on the back side)

* Rectifier (Horse shoe shaped component on the back)

If you know that the Alternator is bad and has to be replaced, first proceed with the following tests:

* Check to see if the inner wire winding look OK (clean) and does not smell burnt (if this case your alternator core is OK)

* Check to see if the pulley (what the belt sits on) rotates smoothly and freely. (if OK it would mean your bearing is sound).

If your core and the bearing are booth OK, chances are that either the voltage regulator OR the Rectifier has gone bad. These will cost you anywhere between $20 to $80.

On a bad Alternator chances of a faulty Voltage Regulator are rather high, but to be sure you can simply unscrew the regulator OR take the Alternator to Auto-Electrician - they can tell you if the regulator is shot. In this case you can simply replace the regulator on the old Alternator.

Here is the simplified version of the Alternator OR Alternator component change procedure:

* Access the engine bay on the Boxster

* Remover Passenger seat

* Remove carpet panel and the front panel cover (see pic)

* Remove the Belt

* Unbolt and remove the Alternator

* Replace components (Regulator OR Rectifier) or New Alternator

* Follow: Put in first what came out last.

Good luck :thumbup:

Edited November 26, 2004 by BoxsterSS

[BoxsterSS]

More pics - close up shots of the Alternator / components

[adsach]

Thanks for the pics and story - good work!

[porscheneer]

Make sure you put this in the DIY section, it is a dandy Hack....

Thanx for the writeup

[peterjoyce]

No owners manual????????? As someone else said, someone must have a house made out of them!

[joncastle]

Hi BoxsterSS

Another Dubai driver! I've just picked up a 98 2.5 manual and had to take it in for its 120k km service this morning. Quoted $490 for the major service, $109 to change brake fluid, and (Oeer!) another $545 to replace gearbox rear main oil seal, which is leaking, and does need to be done. All up, $1,144, and right before Christmas. Argh! Still, our only independent dealer does seem to know what they're doing, and until you set up a rival service...

Where's your friend's garage, and maybe I could start doing some of my own work too!

Best regards

Jonathan

[BoxsterSS]

Jonathan

You HAVE to be kidding! This is THE EXACT list of repairs I got from the same garage for my 2002 2.7L Boxster! But I only had them do a major service! Did NOT let them change the Brake Fluid, or the Oil ring etc. I suspect that they are simply ripping off people! This is probably a standard procedure, while I was there I couldn't help but notice all invoices on their counter were ($2000+) they tell you much more than what the car really needs.

I suggest you opt for a major service ONLY. Unless your oil seal really is giving you trouble, the Brake Oil change ANY GARAGE would do it for you. My Friends Garage (Osman Garage in SHJ don't do anything on Porsche but they let me do mine as a special case).

PM me, may be I can give you more details.

Boxster

[Tool Pants]

More regulator info. http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/show...light=regulator

The Transpro part number IB225 regulator mentioned in the renntech post #15 appears to be the best deal. It replaces Bosch F-00M-145-200, F-00M-145-209, and F-00M-145-225.

A.S.E Supply had a special on it for $21. http://www.asesupply.com/ But I do not think this company sells retail to the public. If you go to the Transpro/WAI sit you can cross reference the part. http://www.wai-wetherill.com/home.cfm

Huco also has parts and if you know the Bosch part number you can do a cross reference. http://www.hueco.de/

[Eric in Dallas]

More pics - close up shots of the Alternator / components

Great work on finding the regulator over at the Benz shop. Porsche does not list it seperately. You wouldn't happen to have any info on the rectifier being available at the Benz shop too would you?

Eric

[Tool Pants]

Transpro has the rectifier listed under their part number IBR200 for 1997-2001. Applications listed are Porsche, Opel, and Saturn. You can cross reference the Bosch part number to make sure.

You can also buy a rebuilt alternator from places such as Kargen and Autozone for a lot less than from a Porsche dealer.