[Vwdiesel] TDI altenator

[S. Shourds]

>Dropped two 13mm sockets, which slipped out of my wet fingers.
>Haven't found them yet, but haven't taken off the bottom pan.
>
>  
>
I've had more tools drop out with the belly pan than I dropped in.  Kind 
of cool. 

>Looking at Fred's page (not as fast as searching old VW deisel archives)
>it appears that there are several methods for R&R'ing the 
>altenator.  The CDROM Bentley implies a complicated job, but doesn't
>seem to detail it.
>
>  
>
I can verify that it's a complicated job.  I dropped an "unobtainable" 
bolt behind it in the midst of my TDI throes and had to pull it.  Takes 
a while to get the serpentine belt off and I snapped the dipstick tube 
off in the process.  Also had to pull off a coolant line that really 
wanted to stay put where it was.  Total removal: two coolant lines, one 
dipstick tube, power steering pump, serpentine belt and tensioner, and a 
few tools hurled into the back of the garage in anger.   I didn't do 
anything organized like look on Fred's (which I would normally do) or 
read either manual (both of which I have).  That might have expedited 
the process....

-Shalyn