I have a 2003 Boxster. I have had it for four months and it has been working beautifully. Just the other day I went to start it and the battery was dead. I jumped it and got about ten miles when the check engine light came on then abs then air bag, then the automatic/manual gear lights started flashing and then the car died. The battery is fairly new. I had the battery checked and it was low but good. I charged it and it was fine. I tested at the battery with the car running and the voltage is 12volts and when I turn the headlights on it drops to 11volts. My guess is the alternator isn't working. I dont know how to get to the alternator or if this is even the problem. Can anyone please help? Is the alternator under the car or do you get to it from above and where is it by? or does anyone know if this could be fixed another way?? THANKS!

 

DOES THE DOC KNOW?

 

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Parts - one place to check - Auto Parts Performance
http://www.autopartsperformance.com/...698+11921+9176

A post/thread on Renntech - F.Y.I., someone's story , who replaced the alternator
http://www.renntech.org/forums/index...;hl=alternator
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Replacing the Alternator
http://mike.focke.googlepages.com/re...youralternator

[/align] [/align] From a post on renntech
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 $1,300, but a 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 both 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 any auto electrical shop - 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:* Disconnect the battery. (You may have to re-enter your radio code after you have reconnected things, depend on your model year)

* Remove 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.


Reconnect the battery.And if you have to replace the entire Alternator because the mechanical parts are bad (bearings or windings), you can go to NAPA or any number of other sources, you don't have to be the captive of the dealer and buy the Porsche branded part. There is nothing special about a Boxster alternator that any auto electrics shop can't handle for you.

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