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Alternator Blues: 2700 bucks!

11K views 31 replies 15 participants last post by  jmansfield04 
#1 ·
My 90K mile 2004 Touareg needs an alternator. Actually the STOP FAULT DRIVETRAIN message (something like that) came up in red letters with three long beeps. Drove it to the dealer and he called back saying the alternator is not sending enough juice to power all the systems necessary so some are dropping out?

Anyway, they have to mainly drop the engine and the tab is 2700 dollars. I just can't imagine it could cost that much. Any advice?

Maybe as an associated question, how long will my Big Blue T be worth keeping around? Anybody with some good 180,000 mile stories of Teutonic longevity? It's been a bad year. First the timing belt scheduled at 80,00 miles, then the thermostat went bad about 5000 miles ago and I wasn't sophisticated enough to realize I could have told them to replace it when they did the belt.

Sorry for such a glum attitude and such a long post. Thanks,

Paul
 
#2 ·
The rebuilt alternator is around $500. I had one replaced on my V6 and the total came to $1200 with some extra parts that were quoted as I was changing over from air cooled to water cooled units, an upgrade... I would definitely get a second opinion on this!

Good luck, and don't forget to change the accessory drive belt at the same time, so called poly-v belt. That's worth $60 or so, tops, plus additional labor, if any.

Geoff
 
#6 ·
Look for an indy shop that can do it. My understanding from a certified Audi/Porsche specialist in the York, PA area is that they can be replaced without dropping the engine. It is tedious work but can be done, as you mentioned thru the wheel well. Check pricing with a Porsche parts shop too, you might be surprised that some component (shared platform) are cheaper thru them. Part # I think for your truck is 94860301504 or 05 (interchangeable).

Good Luck!
 
#7 ·
You can replace it sans dropping the engine. There was a thread a couple of years ago where we went through this. You need to jack the vehicle up, remove the passenger side tire and access it through the wheel well once the liner is removed. It is tedious but dropping an engine for that is ludicrous.

Next make sure you check the tensioner whilst you're at it. Good luck.

siberian
 
#22 ·
When I read things like this on here, I cringe as well.

But, at the end of the day, I think that there's a LOT of manufacturers out there that have this same thing, or something similar.

IIRC, the Ford 6.0L PowerStrokes had to have the CAB REMOVED to take the heads off, if a head gasket blew. How's that for fun!

But, you know at the end of the day, cars in general just aren't as fun to work on as they used to be. I have a '94 and a '95 Firebird. Took me 6 HOURS to change the waterpump. That's ridiculous! It's a waterpump!

And, long before that, I had an early '80's Celica, and the alternator was on the bottom of the engine there as well, like the Treg. You had to remove the radiator to get the alternator out. On top of that, the power steering pump was above the alternator, and I think that the A/C compressor was above it too. How often do you change the power steering pump and the A/C compressor, vs the alternator?

I think car makers have been becoming more and more brain dead for quite a while, OR, there's some bean counters in engineering now, and they are demanding that engineers INTENTIONALLY make things hard to work on, so that when they need to be fixed, you have a huge bill at the dealers.

It's ridiculous anymore,, and I don't think that VW is alone in the insanity...
 
#10 ·
In the UK a dealer will only fit a brand new unit as they have to guarantee the component for 2 years and and the labour for 1 year.

Is this similar in the US?

Regardless, your best bet is to find a good indie who will get your alternator rebuilt and do the job using his head and his skills rather than following the VW master technician manual!
 
#12 ·
orthobiz,

Just curious if you have a warranty/extended warranty? I purchased one recently (5 year/100,000 mile for $2100) for my 04 Treg and after reading your post I freaked out and went and looked through my warranty coverage. The alternator is covered in my warranty.
 
#14 ·
I had mine repaced last month at the dealer for $2800. It was covered under my extended warranty which cost $2500 for 3 years and zero deductible.

They went by the book and dropped the motor to complete the repair but according to link above, it can be done without dropping the motor.
 
#19 ·
Thanx Nick and Yeti. I didn't think it would be, but as there were over 2000 changes between the 2007 (US) and 2008... as I said from the little peak I had in there it doesn't look that much different. Though it is convoluted because of the cooling pipes, I does beat dropping the engine. Also I'm sure if it took him 13 hours it wouldn't take him half as long now that he's done it. A great write-up btw

siberian
 
#20 ·
Also I'm sure if it took him 13 hours it wouldn't take him half as long now that he's done it. A great write-up btw
You are right, I had no idea if it was even possible so a lot of the 13 hours was spent taking baby steps, documenting and making sure not to break things. If I had to do it again with the experience I have now I could do it in 3-4 hours. An engine drop seems far more invasive and more likely to cause other issues. A properly trained mechanic with a lift should be able to use the same procedure and do it even faster. I did it in my driveway, lol.
 
#21 ·
An engine drop seems far more invasive and more likely to cause other issues.
That's what I keep trying to tell the Krak when he insists on dropping body parts, rather than find a way around it... :) But more seriously I find that dropping an engine vs lifting it via a hoist to be more complicated as few people have the trays to catch and roll the engine out (vs lifting it out of the way).

Again, great write-up!

siberian
 
#23 ·
extended warranty

Sundi14, My warranty is called Portfolio backed by virginia Surrety. The VW programs don't go past 7yrs,which is why I went this direction. The policies are very close to each other. I am a low mileage driver ,who will pass this vehicle along to my son. JP
 
#25 ·
Cab removal is still the norm on the Fords, my '08 is the same for some repairs. Easier to remove the cab vs the engine in this case.

I know my dealer was doing the V8s w/o removing the engine from the early days, so its not an uncommon procedure (albeit not "by the book")
 
#26 ·
Different dealer, not factory. Should cost 1600 instead of 2700, going through the wheel well. Interestingly, he previously worked at the same dealership and said the guys there did NOT take out the engine to do the work which makes me think I was being taken for a ride. I will post when the final chapter is written.

BTW the dealer said the price quoted was for a rebuilt alternator.

Paul
 
#28 ·
Final story. Brought it to the new repair shop. Had to replace the headlight as well. The dealer said 300 for the headlight but 7 out of 10 times they break the bracket while removing it so it could be a 700 dollar job. New guy did both for 1700, alternator and headlight.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Paul
 
#29 ·
FWIW it looks like the T3 is equipped with an aircooled alternator, which hopefully means that much of the hassle generated by the T1/T2 watercooled alternator should go away. Never was sure why this component was so over-engineered.
 
#30 ·
#32 ·
I read somewhere that the benefit of the liquid cooled alternator is to warm up the passenger compartment faster.
 
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