VW A4: ALH TDI Alternator removal 

Thank you for watching! All the best to you for the new year!

Thanks for watching & taking the time to comment!

Thank you and thank you for watching!

@Ron Bernardo, I 100% agree! The video is concise, thorough with no long or unnecessary commentary. The added sub-titles worked very well in places where a little more information was needed. Thomas, this video came up as a recommenced view for me since I'm considering doing the same job on a 2004 2.8L GTI with 126K miles. I believe much of the job will be similar to what's shown in the video. Before starting, what other opportunistic maintenance do you recommend I consider? For example, would replacement of the coolant pipe aka "crack-pipe" be ideal at this time? Possibly some other maintenance that if not done at the same time, could possibly necessitate removal of many of the same components at a later date? I appreciate the effort put into your videos.

@Ron the following link is of one of my old videos (sorry about the noise in the video). ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ELbGcSuMvZY.html I move the radiator into service position so it is easier to access the alternator. Yes, one you are "in there" you might as well do other things... but how much depends on you & your wallet. There's a lot of stuff that is old / that could use replacing. Radiator fans, radiator fan switch, crack pipe & thermostat housing etc (go with all metal parts), secondary air injection components, vacuum lines, oil cooler seals, oil filter housing seal. Here's a video for crack pipe removal: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OY2jMQpM3Us.html

+laverne gibson There's usually more than one way to get a job done. :)

Johan Dekker Good to know that the video was of help to you... thank you for watching!

Thank you for watching! If your car does not have AC, it's a bit easier: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Wmi6E1cbNDo.html

John3107 Thank you for watching! nice to hear that my video was of help. All the best to you & yours for the new year!

Thanks for watching & taking the time to comment!

Nice to hear that the video was of help and that you were able to swap it out. Thanks for watching & taking the time to comment!

Let me know how it goes / went.

Then your alternator is "high mounted"... and not low mounted as in this video, yes? Thanks for the DIY input and thanks for watching!

Nice to hear... thank you for watching!

Nice to hear that my videos have been of help to you!

I record "while I am at work"... hence, not much talking (the boss wouldn't like that).

Matthew Klein Thanks for watching & taking the time to comment!

Thanks for watching & taking the time to comment!

Depending on the car & engine... yes, can be a bit of a pain.

+Andrew Poyser Thank you for watching!

Link the video... so I can see. I bet there's a different "layout" (alternator is in a different location)... due to no AC.

I think i found the video... he struggles just as much as it looks like I was (even though it was not a struggle for me). He also had to work from the bottom like I did. Whatever works... everyone is free to do things differently.

Maybe.

You should have no issue getting it to move with a pry bar... wiggling it back & forth until it wiggles free. Make sure that the correct bolts have been removed. Both mounting bolts for the alternator are about 4" long... fully remove the bolts before using a pry bar.

Ramon Diaz ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RPITOlllPlM.html

Probably not... because I covered the alternator cable with a hose at 11:50 . Yes, it's better / safer to disconnect the battery. Thanks for watching!

Awesome thank you. I will disconnect first. Ther darn alt keeps dropping out cruising on highway. Will take it in for rebuild. Your videos are top notch

Google image search: vw hose clamp pliers. Can't get down in there with normal pliers.

MrDuc1979 I don't know why you would want to do all that extra work (disconnecting timing belt, locking the camshaft and then re-timing the pump)... there might be more room after removing the pump, but to me it seems like more work.

***** I have a bad warm start. I already replaced starter, injectors, starter batterie, checked / cleaned - wire, ip timing, temp. sensor and replaced fuel filter. I am thinking about to put in another used ip at last and maybe (did not checked the freewheel yet) want to replace the alternator at same time. And I want to say thanks for all the nice vids you are showing us. They are all very helpful and interesting.

MrDuc1979 I guess if the pump is already out of the way, that it is worth trying. Looking at the video though... you can see the bracket that the ip mounts against, is still going to be in the way. Also the thermostat flange. I'm sure that you will manage one way or another. Thanks for watching my videos!

Hi... an update would be nice. Thank you for watching! If you need any info, just let me know.

Thomas EXOVCDS Almost forgot to follow up with my update. I understand why mechanics either don't want to work on these cars or why they charge so much. Your video was very helpful as this was a real challenge. It took me about 6 hours total. I think I did okay given that I've never worked on this car before. I think the hardest part was getting the tensioner pully back on only because you can't see what you're doing. Thanks again for the video!!

btw.. only about a half dozen cuss words were used. lol

Thank you for the update! Good to hear that things went well. You'll run into many repairs where you have to work by feel because you can't see what you are trying to do. LOL... only, that's pretty good!

Craftsman... lifetime warranty :-) They either replace the gear mechanism or the whole ratchet, when the gear fails. I have three 1/4" & three 3/8" ratchets, so that when one fails, I have a backup (until the broken one gets repaired / replaced). Thanks for watching!

+John Bolz there's a 70, 90 or 120A some have a clutch pulley some don't. You can read the rating on the back where the battery cable attaches... if the pulley has a plastic cover across the front, then it's a cut h pulley.

+Thomas EXOVCDS. Rather I simply pulled the voltage regulator off. It's a Bosch. Thanks for the awesome video anyways.

+John Bolz That'll work too! Check the clutch pulley though if it has one... odds are that it's seized up.

Not yet... but you can follow the steps in the following video, where I raise the 2.5L engine to replace the alternator clutch pulley. After, you just need to remove the top idler pulley (for the alternator belt), so you can remove the upper & lower alternator bolts and wiggle the alternator out. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FpUHDJq3Oms.html

@@EXOVCDS got the top bolt out...do i need to remove anything else..theres hardly any room to fit a ratchet for the bottom bolt (for alternator)

I believe that I get at the bottom one from under the car / through the wheel well (remove the wheel well liner). Should have room for a 13mm socket & ratchet... if yours don't fit, use a wrench.

Hvguy Lot of similarities between different engines & manufacturers.

Thomas EXOVCDS the number 1 similarity across all brands that I've seen is the headache they cause 😂

Hvguy Yes... headaches are universal! LOL

Спасибо за просмотр

Try it without... if you can't, do as I did. Sometimes I do things that are not required... to make things easier (more room).

There are worse things than alternators... just take your time, you will do fine.

Thomas EXOVCDS s

Less refined... but easier to work on, compared to new over engineered common rail engines. =)

Thank you for watching!

I'll continue to look for a used part, but these engines are rare in our area.

Thomas EXOVCDS thanks a lot ya I know you have been a huge help so far tho. Really appreciate your videos and tech support!

Good thing time is money!

Good point. What did tyat bill vs how long it took you?

MrErikw26 I'm not on flat rate, but I'm sure that it was quicker than what the labor guide suggests. Clutch pulley can be done on car... even a bigger time saver (labor guide says remove alternator first).

Lucky you, especially this time of year. Feeling the crunch here. Burned 2 personal days to make my week this week. Got an unexpected rush on Saturday which helped.

MrErikw26 I couldn't handle it and wouldn't even want to try... even at an hourly pay, I work on three cars at a time (when we're busy). Should have paid more attention in school and gotten a desk job after high school.

Gotta do what you gotta do.

That means you can take a nap half way through! =)

You read my mind!

So I got everything out of the way. But I can't really move the ac compressor a whole lot. The hoses in the back are a little different than on this video. ( 99 vw beetle tdi) Can I disconnect the coolant hose above it and pull it out on top?

Never mind, I refused to loose. I found the 1 exact way you have to face it and hold the compressor out of the way, and with your third hand and many obsenities later, it comes right out!lol

Dana Steele I was just gonna reply... but it's good to hear that you managed ok.

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Tacno prika, vidi se da nema iskustva u ovim stvarima.

That's why I no longer work after hours / do work on the side. I'm always impressed by what DIYers accomplish in their garage / driveway etc. Happy new year!