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felony4th · Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 50 Location: Dayton, Ohio

while driving to work this morning- with my '81 n/a heater pushed to full....

all of the sudden, the gauges light up with close to TWICE the normal intensity, the headlights beam as if the brights were on, and the heater fan actually blasts with force like it intends to heat a cold, little german woman on an early morning winter commute in Stuttgart (sp?)!

It only lasted for a couple seconds- but it happenned about 3 times in 1 minute.

What the hell was that?!? Worn ground cables? Holy smokes!

numbbers · Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 11:16 am Post subject:

It sounds like you have a voltage regulator problem, causing your alternator to put out max voltage.
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1980 924 Turbo

felony4th · Joined: 17 Jan 2004 Posts: 50 Location: Dayton, Ohio

It must be the regulator...

My alternator no longer charges the battery, but the car runs fine after a jumpstart.

I think the regulator went from "acting up" to dead.

I've got a new one on the way- anybody want to briefly explain how it is to be installed?

thanx fellas

924RACR · Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 1:17 am Post subject:

Agreed, new regulator.

It's a great design, as you'll get new alternator brushes in the deal too - almost like rebuilding the alternator, except no new bearings.

It's easiest to remove the alternator from the car first (from below, a bit of a PITA). You then just undo two bolts on the back of the alternator, remove and throw away the old voltage regulator/brush unit, bolt in the new one, and reinstall the alternator.

I would recommend at the same time that you also replace the alternator mounting bushings - critical for proper alternator alignment and performance, and always worn out - and also put on a new alternator/water pump belt.
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'79 924 #77 SCCA H Prod racecar
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emoore924 · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 2822

Bright lights? Heater fan blasting? Sounds to me like it started working like it was supposed to

Pretty soon you'll expect the rear window defroster to start working too

D Hook · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 3158 Location: Omaha, NE

Mine did the same thing shortly after I bought it. Yeah, the brighter dash lights and blasting heater fan are okay but the smell of the battery boiling was a little disconcerting. Switched out the regulator and it's been all good for a few years now.

Joes924Racer · Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 2:25 pm Post subject:

no smoke, to all people who ride in these cars this time of year
where you need the heat.. "geez these heaters are weak"..
kind of cute though in a weird porsche sort -o - way though
todays it was close to 60 here and no rain. Nice really compared to all the snow and rain that was here christmas last year.
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1979 porsche 924 Na
1980 porsche Turbo 931GT Replica
Have u ever driven a turbo.