Hullo all.Having only recently become a member of Briskoda,this is all new to me.My problem is,i went to start my car, everything electrical did not work i.e. no lights on warning panel.the engine just refused to start.I called for assistance from the breakdown service i am a member of and was told it was an alternator and/or battery problem.I replaced the battery with what i was told was the replacement.When i closed the bonnet the bonnet lid made contact with the pos and neg terminals of the battery.this resulted as you will imagine in two burnt circles in the bonnet.The battery i must add looked exactly the same as the one i took off.but obviosly not.I managed to drive the car to a garage by placing a rubber car mat over the battery and closing the bonnet lid onto the first catch.A journey of roughly 3 miles.When i arrived at the garage and turned off the engine the lights were still not working and the engine would not turn over.It took the garage three hours to remove the alternator,the mechanic said it was the hardest alernator removal he had ever done.he had to move the entire engine back to allow enough room to remove it.When i told him of the problem with the replacement battery he said that this may have caused the problem with the alternator.May i ask anyone if there is an easy way to remove the alternator.I have had the felicia for four weeks.Thank you in advance.

First replace your mechanic..... removal should take about 15 mins (without coffee !) plenty of room without moving engine.

:eek: I've not replaced a diesel Felicia alternator, but even so 3 hours to remove one does sound very excessive. Is he trying to charge you for 6 hours labour in total to replace it?

Im sure it cant be that much harder to do on a diesel than a petrol and 2 of us did it on a petrol in about half an hour in the snow in the dark

MANY thanks to all who have replied.I am not adding more as i have allready tried to explain in more detail what has happened so far but it seems i have not been allowed to send my reply.so until i am sure that i am using the process correctly.i will just say thanks again.

My felicia is still in the garage awaiting repair due to new year hols.The mechanic showed me the difficulty he had removing the alternator and i must say it was really very arkward.I did manage to aquire a reconditioned alternator my own in fact after being supplied with the wrong one from the same alternator repairer,who i gave all the numbers from off my original one to.Thats another story.So far i have been given the wrong sized battery and the wrong sized alternator.I aint having any luck at all only bad luck.I have now sorted a correct size battery and my original reconditioned alternator bosch 0-123-310-038.My fingers and legs are all crossed and awaiting wed 2/1/08.When hopefully they will both be fitted correctly and i can continue getting to know the Felicia.As i have said i have only recently aquired the car and it has been a real pleasure to drive,it has 60 thousand miles on the clock and is in excellent condition inside and out.I would really appreciate any info on reputable Skoda repairers in the Rotherham South Yorkshire region for any future repairs i may need.Thanks again to all for your replies.

mmmmm - doesnt sound good - I can confirm that a bloody diesel alternator is NOT as easy as a petrol, and Haynes is inaccurate...... boooo. I´m of for a fag and a sulk.