[Vwdiesel] alternator Q's

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

  The worst part would be if the stupid little plastic thing has gone to pot
and
lets the shaft and bearing wobble in the case.  If you catch it early enough
it might not be damaged but I don't recall anybody finding replacements for
those plastic things.
  I managed to drive about an hour with no alternator and that was at night.
IT was late the moon was bright and I'd turn the lights off when no cars
were around.  Interesting drive almost home.  You can go quite a distance
if you leave the fan, radio, lights and whatnot all off.  Seems like a
rebuild
is about $90.
  I've never had a problem opening one up. You really need an impact
gun to pull the nut off the pulley though.  The bearings are fun to try
and get off the shaft without a press though.  New ones will carefully
drive on.
     Loren