Re fitting alternator

[Patrick2691]

Tried to replace the Thermostat yesterday but got rained off. Removing the alternator was a bit of a pain but used a pry bar to lever it out from the top bolt and wiggle from the bottom...getting it back in was another matter!!

Is there any easy way of putting the alternator back in? Its so so tight in the mounts it took me a good 2 hours to get it lined up to get the bolts back in.

[v4rley]

Yes there is a solution!! You need to draw the shims back out the way using a large deep socket and tighten the bolt through to pull them back through

[v4rley]

Photo above is a bit busy, as I had the same issue when trying to reinstall the alternator, so did this in the bay.

You can see behind the socket is the black electrics of the alternator.

[dazza]

Photo above is a bit busy, as I had the same issue when trying to reinstall the alternator, so did this in the bay.

You can see behind the socket is the black electrics of the alternator.

Thats a good tip i used a vice.

[Patrick2691]

Im glad theres a solution but I'm massively confused now lol. The angle of your photo is puzzling me! The problem on mine was the shims on the right hand side which are harder to access than the left.  Are you saying they can move? So if I thread a bolt into it with a deep socket in between as leverage it wil draw it out and allow the alternator to squeeze in easier?

[r5gtt]

Yes there is a solution!! You need to draw the shims back out the way using a large deep socket and tighten the bolt through to pull them back through

Yeah that's the buggers that prevent ease if refitting.

[dazza]

Im glad theres a solution but I'm massively confused now lol. The angle of your photo is puzzling me! The problem on mine was the shims on the right hand side which are harder to access than the left.  Are you saying they can move? So if I thread a bolt into it with a deep socket in between as leverage it wil draw it out and allow the alternator to squeeze in easier?

The pic posted earlier is the back of the alternator which had me confused at first.

Here you can see the shim (or whatever its called). You draw it or push it out. Then it fits on the mounting better you can also see the mounting in the back of the photo. (this is not a GTI but you get the idea).

[Patrick2691]

Okay brilliant. This makes doing it all again a lot less daunting lol. Thanks guys.

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[dazza]

I had a similar problem on a power steering pump recently did not disconnect it from the car so could not use a vice and socket to push the shim out. Did not think of the bolt and socket technic mentioned above. 

[r5gtt]

I had a similar problem on a power steering pump recently did not disconnect it from the car so could not use a vice and socket to push the shim out. Did not think of the bolt and socket technic mentioned above. 

That's an engineers way of thinking dazza  I didn't even think of that as I usually use a vise but great idea v4rley 

[v4rley]

Thanks guys, although the it was only an idea I stole from someone else 

I was in the same boat as @Patrick2691 and couldnt for the life of me get it back in, and after 2 hours changing the thermostat was a bit frustrating! But found that solution and was pretty relieved, could believe I'd tried ramming in for 20min prior to searching for a solution. That's why the photos a bit crap as was last minute thought. Here a better diagram from VW



So if I remember correct seat the socket the same side as the above arrows and draw them back through with the bolt.

[r5gtt]

Trust me mate we've all and I bet all have been there at some point 

[dazza]

Trust me mate we've all and I bet all have been there at some point 

Most of my DIY's are like that.

Had a nightmare with the power steering pump. Took hours to get back on then i had to take it back off as i thought the thermostat i just changed was leaking. But the leak was above the thermostat due to the increased heat/pressure in the system. muppet.

[r5gtt]

Trust me mate we've all and I bet all have been there at some point 

Most of my DIY's are like that.

Had a nightmare with the power steering pump. Took hours to get back on then i had to take it back off as i thought the thermostat i just changed was leaking. But the leak was above the thermostat due to the increased heat/pressure in the system. muppet.

That's the thing dazza we all learn as I did a fiesta 1.4 last week which had some pink thick goo in the header tank and I knew it wasn't the head gasket so took me forever to get it all out including the rad to flush it and all the pipes then jetting the thermostat location as thermostat was also goosed then cross threading the lower alternator bolt and then the belt teats on me as the alternator isn't sitting level for some weird reason so off it came and back on and it was all fixed hahaha  muppet