Dreaded alternator failiure, how much?

[sweegie]

Nothing wrong with buying the part from TPS and getting your trusted indie to fit it... Bakustax seems to be bang on the money re: the genuine VAG part costs & a few hours labour is all that's needed. No need to skimp on an ECP special!

[rossi46]

+ 1 for TPS ..... Used them several times before for various bits

[bilko1]

+2 for TPS, might be more expensive but has a 2year warranty. Would be better with a 75000 mile warranty as that's about as long as a good one lasts

[amanda1]

+2 for TPS, might be more expensive but has a 2year warranty. Would be better with a 75000 mile warranty as that's about as long as a good one lasts

+3 for TPS for same reasons

[Ross_T_Boss]

Thanks guys. And Amanda.

For the sake of £200 TPS seems like the sensible choice. Pics soon - as of last night the RS6 and RS2 are parked side by side outside the double garage at my new house. Just need to be at home some time when it's not pitch black. Sunday perhaps!

[Ross_T_Boss]

No news on the alternator, I'm waiting to hear back from a couple of local independents to see if they'll fit it for me, else it's a weekend driveway job... but the RS2 saw the light of day for the first time in 3 months!

[rossi46]

Nice combo

[bam_bam]

Nice combo

Second.

He just needs a B5 and I'd be fully erect.

[Mr V10]

No way, an RS 2 and a 6, I envy you. More photos, more!

[Mr Footlong]

*moar

I have a good few movies with her in, she's up for anything that one.

[Ross_T_Boss]

Update: I tried my local independent, more reasonable quote @ £570 but turned out this was not a genuine part & they wanted to take the front off, so 4 hours total. I really couldn't stomach a 4-hr labour charge for a job that can be done 1.5 hours on a driveway.

The old alternator came off in an hour (and that included finding the battery!) by following the fantastic guide posted previous in this thread. By taking off all 3 hex bolts holding the oil lines in place there was flex to move them out the way without disconnecting them and drop the alternator out. A crow bar comes in handy to lever it out too - it doesn't really just 'drop'!

I decided to be brave/stupid and go for the £194 Lucas refurb option - if it doesn't work out then it's an easy DIY job to change again. On comparison, the housings looked identical. The Lucas was slightly heavier. It came with a test bench report, pushing out 150A at 2000rpm and 198 at 6000rpm. 13V across the board. The plastic voltage reg & terminal plate at the back was identical, minus the 'Bosch' stamp.

30 minutes to refit everything and the car fired up, quickly settled to a nice idle and the voltage is stable. Up to temperature and gave her a good thrashing, probably the 3C air making the difference but she is pulling better than ever! Happy to have her back on the road, possibly the cheapest RS6 alternator repair ever, time will tell if it's up to the job.

[Acidburn]

Update: I tried my local independent, more reasonable quote @ £570 but turned out this was not a genuine part & they wanted to take the front off, so 4 hours total. I really couldn't stomach a 4-hr labour charge for a job that can be done 1.5 hours on a driveway.

The old alternator came off in an hour (and that included finding the battery!) by following the fantastic guide posted previous in this thread. By taking off all 3 hex bolts holding the oil lines in place there was flex to move them out the way without disconnecting them and drop the alternator out. A crow bar comes in handy to lever it out too - it doesn't really just 'drop'!

I decided to be brave/stupid and go for the £194 Lucas refurb option - if it doesn't work out then it's an easy DIY job to change again. On comparison, the housings looked identical. The Lucas was slightly heavier. It came with a test bench report, pushing out 150A at 2000rpm and 198 at 6000rpm. 13V across the board. The plastic voltage reg & terminal plate at the back was identical, minus the 'Bosch' stamp.

30 minutes to refit everything and the car fired up, quickly settled to a nice idle and the voltage is stable. Up to temperature and gave her a good thrashing, probably the 3C air making the difference but she is pulling better than ever! Happy to have her back on the road, possibly the cheapest RS6 alternator repair ever, time will tell if it's up to the job.

to add to this for ross:

we went and got my tools, had the front of the car up on a pair of drive on ramps. Then I did the following:

1. removed the undertray - 2x twist clips in each arch, 5 or 6 onto the bumper and 3 at the back of the tray. Remove tray once these are "popped"
2. using a flat screw driver unclip the warning light sensor on the back of the alternator.
3. there is 2x jubilee's on the intercooler to metal boost pipe that need undoing.
4. there is 4x allen headed bolts to undo. one at the front of the engine, one holding both oil lines together, and two for the metal boost pipe.
5. turn the metal pipe to allow the black boost pipe to come off
6. there is a 13mm at the bottom left of the alternator when you look front on to it.
7. use a 19mm spanner on the tensioner with a smaller spanner on the end of the 19 for leverage to get the belt off the alternator.
8. the other bolt for the alternator is top left. Use a 8mm allen key socket on a ratchet to loosen it off and remove the bolt fully there is space
9. undo the 13mm on the back of the alternator with a spanner
10. I used a crowbar to lever the top left of the alternator downwards. If you put a lead light so you can see its a lot quicker and easier.

Once all thats done the alternator will come out very easy. Don't bother undoing the oil cooler pipes it really ain't needed. Once the alternators off, what I do with alternators before refitting is the side with the long bolt is on the inside take a file to the alternator casting and just take any lips off, this lets the alternator slide on so much easier.

As ross said, whilst he was sorting other stuff and I was doing the alternator it didn't take that long to do and the amounts audi was quoting ross are truly shameful, i'm just glad I could help him and laura out and get the car back on the road. If anyone else has to do this and wants a hand and your local to swindon/northampton let me know.

Now lets see if ross can get the key's back off his missus anytime soon

[Acidburn]

No news on the alternator, I'm waiting to hear back from a couple of local independents to see if they'll fit it for me, else it's a weekend driveway job... but the RS2 saw the light of day for the first time in 3 months!

rs_x2.jpg

am I a local independant

[Ross_T_Boss]

am I a local independant

Nope, because you will work on the RS2 and also accept spagbol as payment

That, sir, makes you a gentleman and a specialist!

[chunky79]

Good write up Mr Acid. Does your name have a hidden meaning? Like you suffer with ringsting alot?