Removing the alternator of the VW Golf Mark 4 V5 engine.

[bitter root]

This is my first time removing it in this car and I've checked online and they look different to what I have. It's a 2002 car

@fringe bolt

Added it here so others can see

[fringe bolt]

can u take a close up of the alternator?

[bitter root]

It's right here

Hold up

[fringe bolt]

oh shit thas crammed in there

[bitter root]

Fr brah

I'll have to go under the car I thibk

[fringe bolt]

yeah nah u got two options. remove the intake or the radiator

[fringe bolt]

yes that could work too

[bitter root]

I'll try go under the car as its the easiest 😆

[bitter root]

That would be a pain 💀

[fringe bolt]

yeah idk wtf them vw designers were smoking designing the engine bay of that car

[bitter root]

That one bolt bruh

[fringe bolt]

yeah go under the car

if not remove the intake or the radiator

[bitter root]

Yeah

Alr thanks g I'll let u know 👍

[fringe bolt]

aight bro good luck then 🤝 . dw btw this shit normal on german cars. the s class engines from 2010 are the messiest ive seen

[fringe bolt]

bet bro

[bitter root]

Cuz I did something

I finally removed a plastic cover 💀

[fringe bolt]

how long did it take 😭

[bitter root]

Rust is my excuse 💀

[fringe bolt]

aint no way 💀

[tiny juniper]

GG @bitter root, you just advanced to level 2! Chat more to level up and earn top roles!

[bitter root]

I finally have better access

I see the cables aswell so W

[fringe bolt]

u didint remove anything else and got it from going under the car?

[bitter root]

Nah

[fringe bolt]

🤝

[fringe bolt]

oh then what?

[bitter root]

That the belt tensioner?

I think I found the right video but only time will tell lol

[fringe bolt]

aight bro hahahh

[fringe bolt]

it might be but never seen a tensioner look like that

[bitter root]

Fr lol that's why I'm confused

[fringe bolt]

yeah lmao. if it does then the pully should have some sort of tread but its just laminar so its mad confusing lmao

does it spin?

[bitter root]

So I did check it all and I have confirmed that that is most the tensioner

[bitter root]

Yes

[rancid solar]

The tensioner outlined in green

[bitter root]

Thanks bro 👍

[fringe bolt]

bro thas the goofiest tensioner iver ever seen. looks like an engine mount tbh

[bitter root]

🤣🤣🤣

[fringe bolt]

nah but fr straight up lmao

[bitter root]

Ik bro so confusing 🤣

[fringe bolt]

ey but u get the alternator out?

[bitter root]

Thr plan has changed 💀

[fringe bolt]

"its a 10 minute fix" ahh sentence 💀

[bitter root]

So cuz it's my dad's car. 1 change the spark plugs

[fringe bolt]

what u doing to it now?

[bitter root]

2. Maybe get a new battery

3. Find a jumper cable from a neighbour 💀

4. In the last kind of resort change the alternator

[fringe bolt]

aint every car meant to have a set?

[bitter root]

Idk cuh I'm in uk 💀

[rancid solar]

If the alternator is not up to snuff, a new battery will only work for a short time

[bitter root]

Yeah that's why we still gonna change alternator aswell 👍

[fringe bolt]

yeah the alternator gotta send power back to the battery if it cant do that then gg

[rancid solar]

Cool. Good luck mate

[bitter root]

Thanks g

Gotta get parts and that 😂
I'll let you guys know the process 👍

[fringe bolt]

bet bro good luck

[bitter root]

Thanks g

You think I should create a yt while I'm fixing it 😂

Cuz there is no yt on how to

A first timer acting like a pro 💀

[rancid solar]

You should, yes. The only videos out there are for mk5 and above

[bitter root]

Yea

So glad I joined this server bruh.

A few days ago I was tryna find random servers by doing discord.gg/ and did cars I think lol I find this so big W

[bitter root]

@rancid solar @fringe bolt change of plan we working on the alternator again 😂

[tiny juniper]

GG @bitter root, you just advanced to level 3! Chat more to level up and earn top roles!

[bitter root]

I figured out how to loosen the tensioner

I have to use a screw

[rancid solar]

Hold up

You want to remove the belt first

[rancid solar]

Put a wrench over this and you can rotate the tensioner slightly, to alleviate tension on the engine belt, then carefully slide the belt off one of the pulleys

[bitter root]

I thought that would be it but it wasn't it wouldn't even budge lol

[bitter root]

To screw u see is what I put and the tensioner was loosened

Such a odd tensioner 😂

[rancid solar]

Yep that works too. Nice work

[bitter root]

Thanks g

I didn't realise it would take this long 💀

Cuz taking off the intake and radiator of is a lot of work I have to remove the things from under the alternator

The alternator is all set 1 cable has been removed and one screw has been removed and other has been lossened

What's the things called that are connected to the belt wheels?

[fringe bolt]

the timing belt or the pulley?

[fringe bolt]

oh god 😭

[bitter root]

nah i found it out

i have to remove the steering pump and the AC compresser

as they are under the alternator

maybe i could have removed the intake...

[rancid solar]

Important detail - if you can, don’t disconnect the hoses from the AC compressor. Leave them attached and see if you can just un-mount the compressor and swing it out of the way

You do not want to get involved in evacuating and refilling your AC

[bitter root]

yeah

[bitter root]

Update

i removed the steering pump and the AC compressor

I removed the bolts of the Alternator but its stuck in its mount

@fringe bolt @rancid solar

[rancid solar]

Got some photos?

[fringe bolt]

send some pics bro

[bitter root]

Can't rn when I'm back I will 👍

[bitter root]

@fringe bolt @rancid solar Boys we did ittt

Finally got that alternator out

[rancid solar]

Nice work! What else needed to happen to get clearance to remove it?

[valid musk]

Powers alternating current to direct current n to battery

[valid musk]

Well done man now u gotta get the new one in

[tiny juniper]

GG @valid musk, you just advanced to level 1! Chat more to level up and earn top roles!

[bitter root]

We gonna get someone to test the alternator to see if it's good or bad

[bitter root]

Nah

Just the steering pump and ac compressor

There was on thing blocking it which I thought I had to open but after removing the last alternator cable which I couldn't reach before I was able to turn it around and slip it through

Now it's the trouble of putting it back 💀😂

[valid musk]

that’s good man atleast u got it out and let someone test charge n rate if it’s charging

[valid musk]

Goodluck Man!

[bitter root]

Ye

[bitter root]

Thanks bro 🫡

[valid musk]

Ur welcome man cars are shit

[rancid solar]

Oh man - what if you did all this and the alternator turned out to be fine?

[bitter root]

💀💀💀💀💀

I would break the alternator to get a new one 😂😂😂

[rancid solar]

On the plus side no matter what you’ll be the only video on YouTube how to do this job

[bitter root]

I forgot to record cuz it was raining and I kept getting frustrated 💀💀💀

I'll do the opposite film it putting in then order it the opposite way or sm lol

[fringe bolt]

lessgoooooooo

[fringe bolt]

yes

[bitter root]

@fringe bolt @rancid solar @valid musk after very careful examination the alternator is NOT the problem

[tiny juniper]

GG @bitter root, you just advanced to level 4! Chat more to level up and earn top roles!

[bitter root]

By careful examination i mean by buying a new battery and following steps produced by chatgpt to test the alternator out of the car

Tools Needed:
Multimeter
Jumper wires
Battery
Load (such as a light bulb or resistor)

Steps:
Set Up the Alternator:
Secure the alternator on a stable surface where it can operate safely.
Connect the alternator's positive terminal to the positive terminal of the battery using a jumper wire.
Connect the alternator’s ground to the negative terminal of the battery using another jumper wire.

Check for Parasitic Draw:
With the battery connected, set your multimeter to measure current (amperes).
Place the multimeter in series between the positive battery terminal and the positive wire going to the alternator.
Observe the current reading. A significant current draw (above a few milliamps) indicates a parasitic draw, suggesting the alternator may be draining the battery.

Load Test:
To further verify, connect a load (like a light bulb) in parallel with the battery.
Start spinning the alternator’s pulley using a drill or other mechanical means.
Measure the output voltage of the alternator with the multimeter set to measure DC voltage.
A healthy alternator should produce around 13.8 to 14.4 volts when the engine is running.

Inspect Diodes:
If you suspect the alternator's diodes are faulty (common cause of battery drain), you can test them individually if you're comfortable disassembling the alternator.
With the alternator disassembled, use the diode setting on the multimeter to test each diode. A good diode will show a low resistance in one direction (forward bias) and high resistance in the opposite direction (reverse bias).

Conclusion:
If the alternator shows a significant current draw without any load, it’s likely causing a battery drain. Alternatively, if it’s not producing the correct voltage during the load test, it’s also malfunctioning. Faulty diodes are a frequent culprit for both of these issues, and inspecting them closely can confirm the problem.

Opinion:
Frankly, if you find that your alternator is draining the battery, just replace it. Testing is useful, but alternators are complex and vital components. Given their critical role and the potential for other hidden issues, it's often more practical and reliable to get a new or professionally refurbished unit rather than trying to fix it yourself unless you're experienced in automotive electrical systems.

p.s The ampetre set to measure using the multimeter is 200m

(or thats what i used)

I also measured the battery voltage before connecting the jumper cable to see the current voltage and after connecting the alternator using the jump leads to see if the voltage would decrease dramatically indicating that the alternator is drawing power

The issue was just the battery. However i will still test everything again once connected to the car to see if there is anything else that is draining the battery not just the alternator

[bitter root]

boys the alternator in finally in

and everything is back together.

The only thing im now waiting for are the spark plugs then ill start the car up after a long time

[bitter root]

Put the spark plugs in yesterday

emptied the coolant after like 4 years

dirty as heck bruh

[rancid solar]

Good service mate! Keep up the good work

[bitter root]

yessurr

put fresh coolant in gonna turn to car on tomorrow hopefully

[bitter root]

boys the car runs now
Lets goooooooooooooo!

now i have to deal with the throttle cuz it makin such a loud noise 💀

[rancid solar]

Nice work mate - always fun to hear it start after doing a big job

[fringe bolt]

good shit my guy

[fringe bolt]

oh ahha good luck gng

[bitter root]

yesssurr lol

[bitter root]

got the throttle out today

makin mad progress gs

[bitter root]

yo

[grand cosmos]

Yo

Good progress. That is dope your keep us updated.

[bitter root]

i actually dunno bro

so basically its been around 4 years since a proper start so after a lot of trial and error got the car started and changed a few things including the battery and coolant

i forgot i had to bleed the air from the coolant so i did that today

unfortanetly the car still rough idles and makes a very loud sound coming from the engine. The picture shows where the sound is coming from and it was located at the pvc pipe bridging from the engine to the intake pipe

[grand cosmos]

Have you looked into the IAC?

[rancid solar]

Out of curiosity, now that you’ve got it running, can you scan for trouble codes? Clear them, then run the car until they come back and that should be a good start

[bitter root]

yeah i cleaned and checked it. The voltage reading seems off so once i check teh pvc pipe tomorrow i might replace the IAC

[bitter root]

Yea i brought an expensive obd2 reader its a ancel vd700 but it doesnt detect much for the loud sound expect because the MAF sensor is disconnected. There was a engine cooling error but now that i bled it hopefully it gets removed

[rancid solar]

If possible, a video with audio of the sound may be helpful

What happens if you plug the MAF back in?

[bitter root]

yeah hopefully i send it tomorrow

i packed everything up as the engine is super hot to bleed the coolant

[bitter root]

same sound but th eother two errors disappear

[rancid solar]

Ok that’s good. So if I understand correctly, at present situation is: if everything is connected and running, no trouble codes for which you haven’t already taken corrective action; you’ll re-bleed the cooling system when it cools down; and there is a sound that you’ll post tomorrow for us to hear, correct?

[bitter root]

ive bled the coolant today but everything else correct ye

[tiny juniper]

GG @bitter root, you just advanced to level 5! Chat more to level up and earn top roles!

[grand cosmos]

I’ll do research once I am home. I’m thinking IAC but what about your Throttle body?

[bitter root]

i cleaned it

[grand cosmos]

Have you looking inside where the butterfly is? It might be horrendous or damaged

[bitter root]

thank u 🤍

[grand cosmos]

Ahh ok! Sry 10 second crap

[bitter root]

butterfly?

[grand cosmos]

The flapper if you will

[bitter root]

yeah its all good and cleaned

[grand cosmos]

Dope

[bitter root]

ye

[bitter root]

GGood news. I found the issue it was the pcv valve

bad news in in the frickin engine so I have to open the top of the engine cover

so if flushing the oil to remove and dirt if there is any in the pcv valve doesn't work ill just sell the car because I don't have eeven the slightest expertise to work on engine

[grand cosmos]

Oh good deal. Sorry I haven’t gotten back, been so busy

[bitter root]

all good bro just hope the flush works and not have to replace the whole thing

[grand cosmos]

Fingers crossed

[bitter root]

ye

[bitter root]

AAnyone know how to remove a lug nut that is smoothed out

[wheat condor]

i love how this thread is non VW people trying to work out VWs, been a comical read for me

also congrats on the alternator and spark plugs

[wheat condor]

few ways you can do it, angle grinder, hammer and chisel, or smack an impact onto the lug nut with a hammer and ugga dugga it until it gets removed

[grand cosmos]

Non VW people lol

[wheat condor]

yes

[bitter root]

😂

[bitter root]

🫡

[rancid solar]

My corrado years are long behind me haha. Not sure if I’m a former VW people or a non VW people 😆

[bitter root]

😂

[wheat condor]

i consider myself former after not having one for a year, so we’re both former

[bitter root]

I'm a intermediate 💀😔

[finite pawn]

did u get your alternator out?

[bitter root]

yea

[finite pawn]

did u get it back together yet?

[bitter root]

yea

[finite pawn]

does it run?

[bitter root]

yeah

i tested the alternator and i tested it usin a multimeter and the alternator was all fine

the battery was the issue

[finite pawn]

bruh u went through all that

[bitter root]

sshhhh 💀

[bitter root]

Been a year dang bruh

Time flies

[grand cosmos]

How has it been with the car?

[bitter root]

Hasnt been fixed yet 🥲

Somethinf wrong with the engine, I was thinking it would be a valve in the enginer that is stuck or broken but a mechanic said it could be the timing chain