Hey all,

 

I am still pretty new to car repairs, so I needed to take out my alternator. I have currently got the belt off, and the alternator has been unplugged and unbolted, but I am having a lot of trouble actually getting the alternator out of the engine bay. It seems the Lambda Sensor and oil filter housing gets in the way when I try getting it out from the top and the AC compressor is in the way if i want to get it out from the bottom. I am very new to this so im not entirely comfortable taking out the AC compressor and having to re-pressurize it so wanted to find out if it was feasible to take the oil filter housing.

 

Thanks for any help 

I'm asking you this question as you say that you are new to car repairs, what develops from your answer may save you time and money.

 

Why are you wanting to remove the alternator? Based on what information or tests?

 

OK that was 2 questions!

Hey, so I know the alternator was gonna because my battery died whilst I was driving and did some tests to check if the alternator was actually charging and was getting any voltage change over the battery. I have tried putting a new battery in and tested the cabling and the were fine so deduced that it was an alternator. I also took it to a garage and they said the same thing and was charging me £500 to change it over so I am doing it myself to save some cash

When you checked the cabling did you ensure that the field winding excitation circuit was functioning? I ask because you say they were fine but also that you are pretty new to car repairs.

 

You will probably be able to replace the regulator/brush pack in situ, it is always my choice, if you have the alternator loose with almost enough room to remove it then you certainly will be able to, it will be far cheaper as well.

 

Garages either dont know or care to repair an alternator, its always 'you need a new one", they are very very robust and reliable on VAG vehicles only ever requiring the brushes replacing at higher mileages was they are a wearing part.

 

Hey, that sounds interesting I have bought a new alternator already but is still within return period. How would i go about replacing this do you have a guide that walks me through it?

 

Is there any tests I could do that proves it is these brush packs? Appreciate the help thank you

I managed to get the alternator out of a 2009 SEAT Ibiza 1.4 16V 86PS that had AC, maybe I ended up turning it on its end, I found the worst or trickiest bit was easing back the spacers that is in the alternator body.

 

When the alternator failed in that car, I had just started it up and was driving out of the estate onto the main road when the warning light came on - turned round and grabbed my own car and dealt with that one much later.

 

At that time, maybe 2013, I could not source locally any spare parts like a regulator/brushes assembly, it was a Bosch alternator "made in Spain" and the regulator was "made in UK" . 

 

I found that ECP sold 2 versions, the one for that car was quite expensive, the much cheaper alternative which I worked out had the same output voltage and max current had a slightly smaller drive pulley, ie so the actual alternator was the same model so I cheap skated and bought that, it was a Bosch factory refurbished VW Group one, so I swopped over the drive pulleys - fitted it and all was well.