Bad day. Help needed.

[kvxxy]

Matt where did you get your regulator from?

Both my dad a retired main dealer mechanic and his friend a audi tech have told me to avoid ECP. They said they were never happy with parts quality. If I need parts now I just call TPS. Good prices and service.

That Lucas alternator on carpartsforless has a surcharge so am I right in believing that’s a recon part?

[srichards]

I think Lucas are owned by ZF now. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucas_Industries

[benh999]

Matt where did you get your regulator from?

Both my dad a retired main dealer mechanic and his friend a audi tech have told me to avoid ECP. They said they were never happy with parts quality. If I need parts now I just call TPS. Good prices and service.

That Lucas alternator on carpartsforless has a surcharge so am I right in believing that’s a recon part?

I spotted that too, doesn’t physically say if it’s a new or reconditioned part on the page?

[Mɐʇʇ]

To be clear, I was happy with my alternator overall. I just noted it wasn't a bosch regulator and I had a spare one on the shelf I subbed in.
In general terms, you get what you pay for. I choose the brand of the part I want when I buy from ECP. For example, TRW calipers & track rod ends, Zimmerman brake disks & so forth.

You just gotta use common sense - you can't expect to pay peanuts and get top quality.

@kvxxy - it came from KMS Parts online - an ebay outfit. But was the real deal and a good price.

[kvxxy]

Quick update, car is sorted. Refurbished alternator did the job. Was a pain to do in this weather on the driveway. We had 3 mechanics who flatly turn down the job lol. So many mechnics are indimidated to work on this car it’s strange! So my dad did it at the age of 62. We discovered another issue though, we think one of the coolant pipes is leaking. It’s the solid pipe on the drivers side of the head that goes to the back. That should be fun to do.

Anyway I thought I’d give a quick run down of how to do it.

Put car in service position
Remover top radiator hose
Remove top and bottom intercoolers hoses. (Top one so you can see the top of the alternator)
Undo oil cooler lines from oil cooler housing
Undo oil line brackets so the lines can be dropped and moved out of the way.
Undo tensioner and take belt off alternator pulley
Undo alternator bolts
Now pray to god if you believe in him/her/it because it is a PAIN to take out! Removing the top intercooler hose really helps because you can spray some wd40 to help loosen the corrosion. It did not wanna come out! Also make sure you remove the earth and wires befor this.
Refitting is the reversal of all that.

We also serviced the car, my old man wasn’t impressed when we changed the spark plugs because 4 were finger tight! Oh and thanks shopp for your spark plug guide.

Anyway I hope this helps if you ever have to do yours.

Thanks to anyone who’s helped.

Kully

[live.marc]

great write up, learning alot in these posts - just in case!!

[Mɐʇʇ]

I did mine the same way you've described above - however I think there's a DIY post somewhere here where you can "in theory" do it without putting the lock carrier in service position. Not tried myself.

[bilko1]

Changed mine without moving the lock carrier or any radiator hoses. I had the luxury of a ramp though.