GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Golf mk4 TDI => Topic started by: Gozza on 13 April 2010, 20:13
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Hi all,
It appears the bearing in my alternator is on its way out so I have a couple of questions.
Can you replace an alternator bearing only ? if so where can I get one and is it hard to do ?
If not does anyone have an alternator for sale ? and do 1.8T alternators fit the TDI or do I need a TDI alternator ?
Finally is replacing the alternator hard ?
Thanks in advance all ;)
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take it you mean the alternator pulley bearing is gone?
if so you need the the alternator pulley about £45 from vw
also need a tool to remove the old pulley, have a look a few threads down there a link to one
be worth changing the belt at the same time
garage charge a an hours labour as they removed the alternator
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Thanks for the reply Steve.
Is there anyway to check it's the alternator pulley ? I have an intermittent squeek that I think is coming from the alternator (I used a metal pole and can hear the squeek/rough sounding bearings in the alternator). Is it a hard job to do ? What's involved, sorry on Iphone at present so hard to search.
Thanks ;)
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pretty certain it will be the pulley, can you take it to a vag specialist and get them to diagnose it? its a pretty common fault.
think its take tension off belt, remove belt, undo alternator bolts, use tool to undo pulley bolt, pull pulley off, push new one in and reverse
I didnt know what it was when it happened to my car and replaced the belt and steering pump before taking it to a garage
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Should be able to, there is one not far from me. Out of interest if it goes can it cause any damage ? The aux belt is fairly new so doubt I will change that, car had a rebuild not long ago so think it was replaced then.
With regards to taking the tension off the belt am I right in thinking you wind a bolt of some sort onto the tensioner to reduce the tension ?
Thanks again ;)
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mine was like it for months and I do alot of miles so should be fine for a while
use a adjustable spanner to lever the tensioner back, theres a hole which you can get a bolt through to lock it in place. when I took the bolt out it was s shaped :lipsrsealed:
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Cheers for all the info fella I will take it to the garage at the weekend and see what they say. Final question can you only get the pulley bearing from VW ?
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not sure never looked anywhere else
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Fair enough, I will call around and get some prices if anyone else sells them of course :D
Thanks dude ;)
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Stolen from the Shalaxy Forum: http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.php?showtopic=11428&st=0&p=95499&#entry95499
1. Disconnect the battery (we don't want any thermal incidents from shorting the alternator).
2. View the alternator from above.
3. Identify the pulley end and look through the ribs of the body of the alternator.
4. Identify the alternator fan blades which can be seen through the ribs.
5. Insert a small electrical type screwdriver in between the ribs and try to turn the fan clockwise and anticlockwise.
6. If the fan turns freely in one direction and tries to move the pulley in the other it is OK.
7. If the fan tries to turn the pulley in both directions it is faulty and is causing this issue.
N.B. The fan does not require much effort to freewheel.
When stationary or at low speeds, and turning the steering wheel does it make a chirpping/squeal?
I just bought the pulley & belt from VW today £89 inc vat for BOTH, but if you have a new belt you probably won't need one now, especially if it's only started happening.
The tool is £15~ Laser 3307 is the name:
http://www.toolsheduk.com/Q/478/2/4/Alternator-Tool-M10-Spline-1-2inchD.html
Remove belt
Clear space in engine bay if needed (which side is the intake on the MK4?)
put tool in position.
Get someone to hold the socket wrench still while you undo the 19mm nut (it's going to require a strong arm and brute force!)
Fitting is reversal of removal as they say.
I'm going to do mine either tomorrow or the weekend, I'm going to take pics and make a pictoral.
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oh you can get the pulley's from Audi and Seat, probably Skoda and some say Ford do stock them (the Galaxy's use the 1.9TDI).
I think EPC and GSF also do them, but you best check.
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Top man thanks for all the info, will give that a try. Out of interest rather than disconnecting the battery etc wouldn't it be easier just using a none conductive material like a wooden chopstick or similar to spin the alternator blades :huh:
A how to guide on changind the alternator pulley bearing would be superb ;)
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Update,
Cant find on euro car parts or GSF, whats EPC ?
My local garage want £200 odd to change it and sound like they are fishing for more work. Could be power steering pump etc so I think I will change it myself. So will be buying the relevant tool and the bearing asap, wont be using the car anymore as if you leave it then it ruins the tensioner and can ruin the belt too :undecided:
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If it's only just started happening, don't worry about it too much and just change it soon.
The Laser tool is £10-£15
Pulley is £50+vat ish (receipt is in the car)
Belt was £30+vat ish
You only need the Laser 3307 tool, a 19mm spanner (ratchet spanner would be best imo), and a wrench to hold the Laser tool and about 15-30mins to change the belt and pulley.
I can get an image of the belt layout over the various pulleys if you want for when you refit the belt.
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Stolen from the Shalaxy Forum: http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.php?showtopic=11428&st=0&p=95499&#entry95499
1. Disconnect the battery (we don't want any thermal incidents from shorting the alternator).
2. View the alternator from above.
3. Identify the pulley end and look through the ribs of the body of the alternator.
4. Identify the alternator fan blades which can be seen through the ribs.
5. Insert a small electrical type screwdriver in between the ribs and try to turn the fan clockwise and anticlockwise.
6. If the fan turns freely in one direction and tries to move the pulley in the other it is OK.
7. If the fan tries to turn the pulley in both directions it is faulty and is causing this issue.
N.B. The fan does not require much effort to freewheel.
When stationary or at low speeds, and turning the steering wheel does it make a chirpping/squeal?
I just bought the pulley & belt from VW today £89 inc vat for BOTH, but if you have a new belt you probably won't need one now, especially if it's only started happening.
The tool is £15~ Laser 3307 is the name:
http://www.toolsheduk.com/Q/478/2/4/Alternator-Tool-M10-Spline-1-2inchD.html
Remove belt
Clear space in engine bay if needed (which side is the intake on the MK4?)
put tool in position.
Get someone to hold the socket wrench still while you undo the 19mm nut (it's going to require a strong arm and brute force!)
Fitting is reversal of removal as they say.
I'm going to do mine either tomorrow or the weekend, I'm going to take pics and make a pictoral.
i get the noise which you discribe at low speeds but mine has supposingly had a new aux belt and tensioner about 6k ago. Surely its not knackered already.
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The item we're talking about replacing is the pulley on the alternator, the other two only need to be replaced if they are worn down.
A knackered alternator pulley will wear down the belt and tensioner quicker than what they would usually wear down, if your noise has only started then don't replace the other 2.
Of course it's possible the tensioner is also knackered or is causing the noise, but I doubt it if it's been changed fairly recently.
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Im planning on replacing the tensioner, belt and pulley in the next 2 weeks. At first I was getting a slight knocking noise from the tensioner, then the pulley started making a loud tapping noise too when you turned the lights on. This week I noticed that the steering squeek has started! So my car does sound like a rickety bus at the moment.
Im guessing instead of locking the tensioner in place with a bolt, once the belt is off you should be able to gently let it go so there is no resistance at all?
Does anybody know how to replace the tensioner?
+1 for the guide on the pulley change! Will be very helpful....
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From a quick look at it, it's 3 or so bolts to remove the tensioner but not 100% sure on that.
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Yeah looks like it. Im guessing wrench the tension off and pin it back, remove belt. Replace tensioner and pin it back to fit new belt in the meantime change the pulley.
Is there a cover on the alternator pulley as it just looks like a small disc?
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OH and if this is a common prob on the TDi's maybe someone can make it a sticky in the maint section!?
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It's defo common.
Yes, that's just a cap on the alt pulley, you get a new one with the new pulley.
Taken from another forum http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.php?showtopic=19519
You take the tension off the belt with a lot of difficulty! If you look on the visable side of the tensioner you'll see a square hole - the official way is to use a special tool to locate in there and then lift up - if you dont have that tool then it can be done with a large allen key - when I did it I used a socket to wedge in underneath to keep the tension off but give it respect as it'll take your finger off if the socket slips out.
The actual process is very easy but the tension its under makes it difficult!
There is a square shaped lug on the tensioner, onto which you can put an adjustable spanner. Pull the lug to release the tension on the belt. You will then see that a small hole in the tensioner (near the lug) allows you to put a piece of welding rod through to keep the tension off the belt while you remove it.
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It's defo common.
Yes, that's just a cap on the alt pulley, you get a new one with the new pulley.
Taken from another forum http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.php?showtopic=19519
Gotta log in for that link matey.
Did you get round to doing this today ? Looks fairly simple I think, although I would say the washer bottle needs to come out of the tool wont fit in.
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Didn't get a chance yesterday :sad:
I won't need to remove my washer bottle :tongue: It's on the otherside.... But I'll have to move the intake sh!z :sad:
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might be on your car :rolleyes: alternator is next to the washer bottle on mk4's :tongue:
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb74/kryptik_2010/golf/30042009265.jpg)
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I'd rather remove the washer bottle than all the intake stuff :sad:
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I won't need to remove my washer bottle :tongue: It's on the otherside....
Makes me look forward to the guide even more :laugh:
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Rang a few places today.
Local tool shop want £50 for the pulley and £17 for the tool both need to be ordered in.
VW Want £55 odd for the Pulley and don't stock the tool.
Euro Car Parts want £29.40 for the Pulley and don't stock the tool, my local has 3 in stock so off to see them later.
Cheapest place I found the tool was Here (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220517483940&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_3134wt_939)
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Apparently *if* you can get VW to sell you the tool (which they're not really allowed, but some have reported they've managed to purchase it from VW) it only costs about £6.
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Well have the bearing in hand now and the tool has been ordered so will try and get it sorted this weekend.
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Booked myself up on Sunday for a day of fettling.
Changing aux belt & pulley, I'll get as many pics as poss to make a guide.
Also doing the following:
Cleaning engine bay.
Try find where small oil leak is coming from.
Changing rear disc's and pads, and bleeding brake fluid and ABS pump.
Checking IC piping.
Taking through automaticz car wash for more swirls than a swirly thing in swirly land - don't worry it's a Ford and already has swirly paint and stone chips and rust spots on the bonnet.
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Right had a crack at this today, left the car looking like this as cant for the life of me work out how to get the tension off the tensioner. Any ideas people, there is mention of screwing a bolt in but my tensioner does not appears to have an option to do this ??
I am not far off a breakdown so any help appreciated :D
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h125/ccgosling/Picture068.jpg)
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h125/ccgosling/Picture070.jpg)
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use a adjustable spanner and put it on the section Ive circled, then pull it forward and put a 4/5mm bolt through the hole. be careful and dont let the spanner slip!! its a bit more awkward getting the bolt out as it will bend
hope that helps
(http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb74/kryptik_2010/golf/tenso.jpg)
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Hmmmm I did try that but it seemed like it needed a hell of a lot of pressure to pull it back. Will have another go, thanks matey ;).
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it is a tensioner :wink: use a bigger spanner. also its easier if you have someone help you
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Right managed to get the belt off by using a large screwdriver. Pushed it passed the belt at the further point of the tensioner I could and pushed forward. Managed the push it enough to get the belt off yay. Just for your ref Steve there is absolutely no chance from what I can see of using that bit circled and pulling back.
Next issue the pulley bearing is so f*cking tight its untrue. I am pretty sure He-Man himself would have issues with this bad boy. Had tried with all my strength but it just wont budge :undecided: Any ideas other than the power of Greyskull ?
Am I correct in thinking you need to put a spanner on the bolt that has all the little teeth on and push forward ? Looking at the new bearing the thread indicated you screw on in the normal clockwise direction to tighten therefore I am pushing it in an anti clockwise direction. Hopefully this makes sense.
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It can be done as I have had the belt off a few times and have done it the way I said :wink:
do you have the tool to undo the pulley bolt?
cant help with getting it off as mine got changed when the garage done my cambelt all I know is they took the alternator off to change the pulley
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Ah ok fair enough, was bloody hard to do from what I tried. I am seriously considering taking the alternator off and taking to a garage. Yes I have the special tool, so stupidly tight its untrue :(
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Have you got a wrench on the end of the tool and someone to hold it for you? While they are holding it so the pulley won't move, you put the spanner over the 19mm(17mm?) nut on the tool and give it a Effing good shove, if you have a mallet might be time to give it a few whacks with that to loosen it.
Doing mine tomorrow, can't wait for a car that has no creaking steering! WooHoo!
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Yep have the tool holding that while trying to turn the 17 mm spanner. Problem is the spanner is quite short so can't get much strength behind it. Going to have another bash at it later today hopefully.
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Try get a longer 17mm spanner if you can for more leverage, or a longer pole to stick on yours to 'extend' it and give you more leverage. I still reckon a good swift smack with a mallet will help, s'what I'm going to do because I've heard how toight these buggers are :evil:
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I tried using a hammer but no joy, problem you have is because its a bearing it not quite so easy as it absorbs some of the forced by moving slightly. Been on there 91k miles so clearly welded itself on :D. Going to see if WD40 or similar may help plus I have a torque wrench that may assist.
Getting the windscreen washer bottle out is a complete f*cker by the way :undecided:
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I tried using a hammer but no joy, problem you have is because its a bearing it not quite so easy as it absorbs some of the forced by moving slightly. Been on there 91k miles so clearly welded itself on :D. Going to see if WD40 or similar may help plus I have a torque wrench that may assist.
Getting the windscreen washer bottle out is a complete f*cker by the way :undecided:
much easier to remove the front bumper to remove the washer bottle - you may need to do that to put it back in!
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Your probably right and at the time I did think, I am going to have to remove the bumper. I think it was just denial at the time, managed to get it out with everything in place :D
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What ever you do, don't use your torque wrench to hold the tool still.
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Yeah almost did that the other day, its so tight I am losing confidence that I am trying to turn the right way :D
Tis annoying that the bolt is only 17mm, I have a huge 22mm spanner :shocked:
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You got someone to help you, so you don't have to hold both spanner and wrench? I'm getting the father in law to hold the wrench while I push the spanner... 143k miles I bet it's harder than yours (ohhh errr) :grin:
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Mate of mine is hopefully coming round later but he is an unreliable biatch so may ask my brother. Its annoying that I cant complete it due to this one simple thing.
Let me know how you get on, probably have another crack later today. Main thing I want to know is what direction it screws on. 95% sure its clockwise but as mentioned losing the confidence as so damn tight.
143k miles, ooooh that will be a peach :wink:
Good luck with it, oh and bit of advice get a water bottle or similar to catch the screen wash or let it run out like I did :evil: and learn how all the clips for the pumps on the washer bottle can be disconnected before you start. That alone took me about 30 mins :grin:
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I've got a Galaxy (basically a Sharan with AUY engine) , so it's the air filter box and piping I need to remove... Bet it's easier than the water bottle though! :grin:
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Bet it is too :angry: :grin:
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Did you a chance to try this matey ? I got in at 3.30 this morning so had a kip instead. Thing I may need to buy a new longer 17 mm spanner
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f@ck arse c@nt.
Yip, gave it a bloody good try, easy job to remove the air box & MAF.
Then had to either"
A) Take alternator off
II) Make a hole on the plastic trim.
I tried to take the alternator off but after taking the 2 bolts out I could not for the life of me budge it, neither could my father in law... when I pulled up I moved the engine :shocked: When I pushed down, I moved the car down... :shocked: How the f@ck do you get it off?!
So then I had enough of that, so made holes in the plastic trim covering the light housing so I could do it with the alternator on...
17mm spanner BENT, 3 hours trying different things to budge it including metal poles over the wrench and spanner for more leverage, hammers, mallets... it would not budge.
Then it started getting dark, so I put it all back together, washed my hands and put the kettle on.
143k miles makes the job so much harder.
Oh and and EASY way of moving the tensioner is a mole grip, set it to the right width to grip the nob on top, clamp it down and it's SO much easier to move the tensioner then, with a allen key locking it in place. It started out so well, got it stripped down really quick, just couldn't do the last 1/2 :cry:
Many thanks to my father in law for helping out today while going back and forth cooking dinner too :afro: oh and my daughter for getting under the car and feeling in the splash guard for the splined bit that goes over the shaft locking bit, that fell and disappeared into the midst of oil and sponge down in the depths of the splash guard, I owe ger a fiver now lol shouldn't have bet her she couldn't find it :grin:
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Ah great, so it seems these bastad things are welded on almost. Wish I just took it to a garage now, ain't got time or this sh!te :(
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If I could get the alternator out I could have put it in a vice grip and had a lot more room to play with but with the galaxy it's a f@cking struggle with all the trim under the bonnet, I'll get pics up when I can of it all. Managed to get it all back together just before it got too dark and got home sound without any problems... oh and I think it was my unlucky shirt that didn't help much with this logo:
(http://carscarscars.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/ford_fuct_1.jpg)
:grin:
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Well I am getting hard core on it's ass tomorrow. Got a blow torch that I will use to heat it up, also got a torq wrench to use on the special tool and finally a longer 17 mm spanner. If this little lot does not budge it I will take the alternator off an take it to a garage :undecided:
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f@ck knows how the 'drop forged' 17mm spanner I had was bending... I even chipped it in a few places smacking the crap out of it and hands hands.
Oh and the plastic coverings etc... were in fact fibreglass :sick: my arms and hands itch to f@@k where they got scratched reaching into the depths of the engine bay and the fibreglass dust getting in the scratches :cry:
Good luck tomorrow!
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Must be a common problem just changed my alternator pulley and the aux belt i paid £25 to have them fitted.
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£25 to have em fitted, what the ? Thats veyr cheap, common price £150 - £200
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That's the price when the garage/mechanic sources the parts :wink:
You buy the parts and take it to them and they'll charge 1/2 hour's labour probably, about £25.
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oh I also noticed my IC is infact an FMIC :smug: it's mounted just below the radiator :cool: :grin:
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£25 to have em fitted, what the ? Thats veyr cheap, common price £150 - £200
mine was a hours labour £38 plus the bearing
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Is it a OEM VAG part or pattern part? :huh:
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Me?
it was £38 labour plus £45 for the bearing which was a VW part
going on the hassle you two have had am glad I paid them to do it :lipsrsealed:
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Never mind I misread what you said, the missus was jabbering and I was pretending to listen.
I'm going to try remove my alternator this weekend and take it down to the mechanics and let them change the pulley, I've not got a work bench with vice grips to use.
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Wish I had just taken mine to a garage too. The blow torch I have no longer works and even with the torque wrench and longer spanner the bastad still won't budge. I have had to take the alternator off and take it to a garage tomorrow. Annoying thing is I had to take the tensioner off too as I could not get the alternator off otherwise.
Decided from now on if it's even slightly complicated the garage can do it, sick of hacking my hands to bits and then finding a problem :(
Can't wait to put it all bak together again :undecided:
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I dunno if it's just me, but when putting the old belt (not going to use the new £20 belt with the old pulley!) back on, it took me a few mins to get it to slip over the alt. pulley properly.
Pain in the arse of a job tbh when you don't have a nice garage with useful things to work with.
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Joy no doubt I have yet more fun ahead then, still waiting for the garage to confirm they got it off :undecided:
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Right the piss o sh!t is off, garage charged me £10 to do it :shocked: but at least its done.
Rebuild time come the weekend and finally I get my car back yay.
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Just changed my tensioner and yes DEFFO easy to use a pair of mole grips to take off the tension, very easy. Waiting on the laser tool to be delivered then will take the alternator off to change the pulley and have it in the vice as you lot have had trouble getting it off while on the car!
So much of a difference in rattly noise with the new tensioner...
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I got a little confused when told to use a spanner, you dont want to know how I was trying to do it :D
Only problem with mole grips is the access, power steering and fuel lines are in the way :undecided:
Out of interest, how does the car remember the mileage when the battery if off for a while ?
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I got a little confused when told to use a spanner, you dont want to know how I was trying to do it :D
Only problem with mole grips is the access, power steering and fuel lines are in the way :undecided:
Out of interest, how does the car remember the mileage when the battery if off for a while ?
The memory is built into the clocks :wink:
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So what would happen of you left the battery disconnected for sally a week ? I am guessing the clock batteries are rechargable then ?
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So what would happen of you left the battery disconnected for sally a week ? I am guessing the clock batteries are rechargable then ?
its a flash memory type chip inside so no battery to worry about :smiley:
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Do you have a code for your radio? :lipsrsealed:
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Do you have a code for your radio? :lipsrsealed:
if its original factory fit you shouldn't need the code :smiley:
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ahh... I've never had a new enough car to worry about such things (but read about people needing it) until now which is why I didn't want to disconnect the battery last weekend :grin:
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Funnily enough I disconnected the battery and when I reconnect it then said "Safe" so I shat myself and began hunting through the paperwork and found the code. Finally got all the car back together and was armed with the code, only for it to then say "Learning" and I did not need the code after all :undecided:
Car looked like this earlier, its all back together now bar the washer bottle, going to use for a week to make sure no issues then put the bottle back in.
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h125/ccgosling/IMG_04661.jpg)
Only thing I am concerned with is it seems the thread on on of the bolts securing the tensioner is threaded so it wont do up tight. Do you think the other two will be able to take the strain ? The bolt still holds into the position just does not do up tight :sad:
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Well all good now, no more squeeking.
Still have not put the windscreen washer bottle in, don't have the energy yet :D
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I did my pulley today, and I decided to take the alternator out as it seemed the easiest option. Of course the tensioner has to come out, but it only really 5 bolts to remove the alternator altogether.
Once off, was a lttle squeeze to get the pulley off but had it all back together and squuek free in about an hour so not too bad at all! Drives and sounds dreamy now.... all thanks to this thread :wink:
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Removing the alternator is definately my recommendation for this. If I knew then what I know now would have probably taken me a similar amount of time and I would not have to piss about putting the washer bottle back in :/
Glad it helped ;)
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Removing the alternator is definately my recommendation for this. If I knew then what I know now would have probably taken me a similar amount of time and I would not have to piss about putting the washer bottle back in :/
Glad it helped ;)
Maybe you could write a guide on How To, recommending the removal of the alternator & it be made a sticky!!
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Ok will do :wink:
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Yeeeehaaaaaaww!!
Got it done today with the help of a little lube :laugh:
Took the alternator down to the garage he helped me out for 30 mins trying to get it off... no go, so he gave me 3 choices:
1) Heat it up, possibly kill the bearings and need a new alternator
2) New Alternator anyway
3) Put a little penetrating oil in the shaft and try again later...
For all he did, and me keeping him back 30 mins or so he didn't even charge me :afro:
I opted for 3 :grin: Left it for an hour or so and tried again with my father in law. Got the spanner & wrench on, the father in law started tapping the spanner near the base, and after a minute or so it freed up! FML!
I'll post what I found under the pulley later this evening... :lipsrsealed:
Got it al back together about 4 hours after getting it off, including giving it a go ourselves, taking it to the mechanic, filing down the bracket on the alternator as it just wouldn't go back on :cry: NO more noise on full lock, oh my word it's going to be the uber now :grin:
Let's hope I've put it all back together properly now, got a trip to Southampton tomorrow :laugh: :lipsrsealed: I'll get a PDF made up when I have a few mins free.