GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: chiefwhosm on 27 April 2013, 11:53
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Hi,
I'm trying to get the alternator out of a 1.4, and I've removed the top long bolt, and a shorter bolt that I saw further down which I presume was the right one (since the Haynes manual didn't show the locations) but the alternator won't shift.
I gather from the manual once the bolts are out you just push down to compress the spring tensioner, release the belt and then remove the alternator but currently when I push down nothing seems to happen.
Am I missing something here?
Thanks,
Chief.
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Once you remove the bolts u need a pry bar to pry it out i belive its only 2 bolts but they can get stuck in and require some physical effort to remove it
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Hi,
Thanks for the reply. I've tried using a 15" spanner as a pry bar and a small pry bar since I thought I'd get enough leverage with that, but even that didn't seem to work. The engine seems to try lifting out of the car before the alternator comes off.
Chief :)
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Sure you've undone the right bolts? Although can't think what else would be on the same mount.
Shouldn't be this solid... I've never had to use a pry bar!
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No, I'm not sure at all if I removed the right bolts.
The bolts I found were the long top one, and a quite short one sort of around the mid-point of the aux. belt, underneath the lowest portion of the belt.
I looked at my 1.9D's alternator, and it also had a bolt on the left hand side around the centre, but this isn't there on the 1.4 (though the hole is).
Chief :)
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have a look here.....
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=252627.msg2317542#msg2317542
it's about swapping thermostats on 1.8/2.0 but covers removing alternator and the bolts are marked in the photos
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Thanks, so I did at least remove the right bolts (or one of them at least if I'm right that the 2nd real bolt to remove was already missing).
I was getting to the stage of wondering whether the holder was all part of some combined unit because of how solid it is.
So... how much damage will a 4 pound lump hammer do to shift this thing? :smiley:
Chief :)
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post photos of the alternator from a bit of a distance and then some from the belt side of alternator (similar to the two first photos in the linked thread) before you hit it with a lump of hammer.
maybe there is something holding it still on.
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Hi,
As best as the weather allowed, here's some (not incredibly good) pictures I managed to take:
(http://imageshack.us/a/img10/2716/img0006nai.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img811/5741/img0005gt.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img109/7181/img0002msf.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img42/8616/img0003uz.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img856/7999/img0004lc.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img28/8546/img0001xyw.jpg)
Chief :)
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Why is the fan belt still on
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Because according to what I've read, you're meant to remove the fan belt by pushing down the alternator to depress the spring tensioner so that you can remove the belt (and then the alternator). The alternator isn't moving at all so I can't get the tension out of the belt.
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Hmm i cant see why it wont move if all bolts are off maybe it is generally stuck u need to go about this carefully with a pry bar prefered not hammer as with a pry bar u can guage on what is happening instead of club hammering it till something snaps
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As mentioned already the pry bar didn't work, the engine started rocking before the alternator ever moved. I did wonder (though haven't tried yet) if a thin paint scraper could be knocked into the smallish gap between the holder and alternator on either side in the hope increasing the gap frees it.
But figured it was probably something I was doing wrong, hence the post for help :)
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put the upper bolt back in , dont tighten it up thou....
tap the bottom of the alternator from underneath towards the back with a small hammer.... or try pushing down with all your weight really hard, then take the belt off... with belt on no surprise you cannot pull it out.
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Just wanted to say thanks to all who posted.
Try as I might, that alternator just wouldn't budge to allow me to get the belt off, so in the end I resorted to scissors.
The 1.9D alternator that I was also removing once losened/lower bolt removed swung perfectly down releasing the tension as they're meant to, so at least I know the 1.4 was misbehaving.
Chief :)
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No worrys mate so you altenator is some how stuck in the 1.4
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Was stuck, once the belt was off it pulled off the car ... Eventually. ;-)