Alternator problem

masurati · #1 09-12-2011, 04:55 PM

my mechanic is getting eom one from dealer fro 600 something dollars
he is saying he has to remove radiators upper hose to get to it.
which means new coolant and coolant bleeding. Wonder if its possible to
get to the alternator without messing with coolant hoses.

bosanci28 · #2 09-12-2011, 05:03 PM

here is a DIY for you friend...

and yes,you need to add coolant, some hoses needs to come out.

here why ,top hose attached to the alternator...

600$ is a lot of money...ohhh

masurati · #3 09-12-2011, 05:18 PM

Thanks for the diy link. it looks like lot of work. I just put new waterpump in it two weeks ago and I wish I had know the alt. was bad too. Now all the hoses have to come off again. I have a voltmeter now hooked up to a cigarette lighter and everytime I start it I wait for voltage to climb to 14 volts and its fine. maybe i will drive like this for a while before it completelly goes out :-).

bosanci28 · #4 09-12-2011, 05:32 PM

well,there is a place here in my area ,from what i know ,one of my family member ,had some problem like you have ,voltage,and he replaced it with a used one for 150$ with 6 or 12 month warranty (not sure 6-or-12)...

my alternator ,everything was fine and then one day i start hearing some big noise coming from the front, in my case a bearing was the problem,but i put new one for about 350$ with lifetime warranty at riebiest auto parts.

goodluck,friend

masurati · #5 09-13-2011, 05:08 PM

Yesterday I removed the alternator. I thought I would have to
disconnect coolant upper hose from the radiator but after I took out electrical fan there was enough space to work in there. So after removing the belt there was not much to it. Just tipped it upwards and pulled it straight forward. it is very heavy and you have to support it somehow before you get wires disconnected from, it almost broke my back.
I am getting a new one from the dealer so I will just put it in and see if voltage is constant 14+ volts. So now I know for sure 2005 4.4 x5's alternator is not watercooled and there is no need to remove radiator hoses and refill the cooling system. So all those Alternator DIYs floating out there are for older pre-2004 x5s and on those it's a real pita job. I just had to be extra carefull not to tear any radiator hoses.