TDI Alternator pulley help

[Degsy]

guys
been quoted about 70/80 quid for local garage to supply and fit this.
can get pulley on the net for £32 quid then £15 for spline tool. Do i gie it a go myself or let garage do it??
is there a step by step guide anywhere to DIY this, my query is how do i take tension off the belt. also noticed belt has a bit of cracking allthough a new belt in october I think its a two sised belt and other side looks ok . do you get cracking on the belt??

anyway guide to do it myself or local garage?

cheers
D

 

[techie]

By the time you have taken the alternator off etc their price sounds pretty good.

 

[gdjohny]

I just bought the tool and changed it myself. Mine was making a lot of noise while i was turning -all quiet now

 

[Degsy]

can you advise how you took the tension off the belt? did you do it with alt in place on the car, what engine is yours.

advice appreciated.

D.

 

[Seatmann]

Here's something you could look through

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=146580

I've got the ALH engine in my car and no A/C, removing the alternator is like a 5 minute job. This is in a Mk4 golf so very similar and the same chassis as the leon.

 

[chrismac]

On a mk1 Leon TDi, the alternator needs removing to do the job (with the laser tool from GSF)

This means the A/C pump and O/S rad fan need removing for access.

Bit of a faff, though I did my own. The aircon pump & alt will likely need a good bit of persuasion to free them off...

 

[James_R]

I've always managed to do them in situ, only struggle with inline engined cars like passats, a4s, superbs etc where things are a little tight.

I have a full removal kit which has slim line bits - does an a1 job

 

[gdjohny]

mines a tdi
I just used adjustable spanner on tensioner to remove the belt and then used laser tool to remove old pulley and install new one
All together 5 minutes

 

[seantdi]

On a mk1 Leon TDi, the alternator needs removing to do the job (with the laser tool from GSF)

This means the A/C pump and O/S rad fan need removing for access.

Bit of a faff, though I did my own. The aircon pump & alt will likely need a good bit of persuasion to free them off...

I took the alternator of my tdi whitout going near the a/c pump or anything else

 

[Degsy]

so with the correct tool its easy to do with alt on the car? do i unbolt the tensioner (x3 bolts) or is there another way of loosening the tension.
thanks
Darren

 

[seantdi]

there is a lug on the tensioner. grip this with a vice grips or adjustable spanner. there is a hole it it. use a nail or something similar to lock it when you have the tension off

 

[Degsy]

cheers pal

 

[Fuelwatcher]

Gutted I have my car in a garage. They were doing the alternator belt, tensioner and pulley anyway and then called me to say the alternator pulley needs replacing. Paying full RRP on the part sadly which is £64 inc vat and they have said another hours labour to do the job. He said they have to remove the alternator as they cannot get to it sufficiently to get the old one off and the new one on.

Looking at various comments on here it seems the job is not all that big and should take them less than half an hour. The guy is someone I know and an old schoolfriend so don't feel like I can say anything but it seems garages turn 10-15 minute jobs into hour long jobs just like that :-(

All in all I am having 95k service (checks, oil change and filter), cambelt kit replacement inc water pump, auxilary belt, tensioner, pulley and alternator pully swap done for a tip over £400 inc VAT. It sounded ok till I started reading how long the little jobs took such as the alternator clutch pully.

 

[towcester vag]

ive changed loads
usually in situ
but some have been so seized ived had to remove the alternator