2.0 Aircooled: Man hours to replace Alternator?

An alchemy of sparks, copper wire and earth

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

paulo999
Registered user
Posts: 225
Joined: 08 Feb 2011, 22:05
80-90 Mem No: 9365
Location: London

2.0 Aircooled: Man hours to replace Alternator?

Post by paulo999 »

Had a search on this but drew a blank.

How long for a mechanic experienced with these vans? I've been quoted 3 hours. Sounds a lot to me... Am sure I saw a YouTube video of someone getting one out in 10 minutes (knew what they were doing).

I feel like I should be doing this myself, but on a simple job of swapping the voltage reg / brushes part, I managed to cross thread a screw, so my basic mistakes have a penalty :-/

User avatar
Hacksawbob
Registered user
Posts: 4443
Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 07:11
80-90 Mem No: 1168
Location: Lancs UK member 1168

Re: 2.0 Aircooled: Man hours to replace Alternator?

Post by Hacksawbob »

An hour tops if you stop for a fag and a brew, expensive bit is the alternator.
member 1168

User avatar
bigherb
Registered user
Posts: 2579
Joined: 27 Mar 2008, 13:50
80-90 Mem No: 5789
Location: West Kent

Re: 2.0 Aircooled: Man hours to replace Alternator?

Post by bigherb »

Yes you should be comfortable within and hour, bear in mind you have to transfer the fan and housing over to the new alternator.
1982 Camper 1970 1500 Beetle Various Skoda's, Ariel Arrow

paulo999
Registered user
Posts: 225
Joined: 08 Feb 2011, 22:05
80-90 Mem No: 9365
Location: London

Re: 2.0 Aircooled: Man hours to replace Alternator?

Post by paulo999 »

Hacksawbob wrote:An hour tops if you stop for a fag and a brew, expensive bit is the alternator.

Cheers Bob and bigherb.

Sounds like 3 hours is an inflated quote then - dare I name and shame? Given that it doesn't look like a specialist job, might try the local independent place round the corner, who have a good rep for fair billing. Or I just tackle it myself, take it steady.

The fault is intermittent. For five minutes it can be charging, then it's all over the place (I have an ammeter in the dash). Not the regulator/brushes unit as I replaced that and still wobbly.

Sounds like getting it reconned could do it, but I'm being impatient. Heading to Glastonbury in a week, and whilst I can survive the journey using my monster jump pack + two (!) extra batteries, it's all a bit of a faff on every restart. :) So might have to swallow the alternator cost.

User avatar
bigherb
Registered user
Posts: 2579
Joined: 27 Mar 2008, 13:50
80-90 Mem No: 5789
Location: West Kent

Re: 2.0 Aircooled: Man hours to replace Alternator?

Post by bigherb »

Before you dive in with a new alternator, check the alternator wiring connection onto the starter motor is not loose.

Then check the regulator is making good contact with the sprung bus bar.
Image
1982 Camper 1970 1500 Beetle Various Skoda's, Ariel Arrow

User avatar
ELVIS
Trader
Posts: 2316
Joined: 14 Sep 2006, 16:22
80-90 Mem No: 3111

Re: 2.0 Aircooled: Man hours to replace Alternator?

Post by ELVIS »

Is the charging light bulb loose in the dash cluster? :ok

User avatar
Hacksawbob
Registered user
Posts: 4443
Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 07:11
80-90 Mem No: 1168
Location: Lancs UK member 1168

Re: 2.0 Aircooled: Man hours to replace Alternator?

Post by Hacksawbob »

Maybe you have over analysing syndrome? maybe mine is all over the place, but if the light on on the dash goes out I'm not worried :) uninstall the guage and blissful ignorance will ensue


:run
member 1168

User avatar
kevtherev
Registered user
Posts: 18830
Joined: 23 Oct 2005, 20:13
80-90 Mem No: 2264
Location: Country estate Wolverhampton Actually

Re: 2.0 Aircooled: Man hours to replace Alternator?

Post by kevtherev »

bigherb wrote:Before you dive in with a new alternator, check the alternator wiring connection onto the starter motor is not loose.

Then check the regulator is making good contact with the sprung bus bar.
Image
Wouldn't that trigger the sign lamp if poorly contacted?
AGG 2.0L 8V. (Golf GTi MkIII)

User avatar
bigherb
Registered user
Posts: 2579
Joined: 27 Mar 2008, 13:50
80-90 Mem No: 5789
Location: West Kent

Re: 2.0 Aircooled: Man hours to replace Alternator?

Post by bigherb »

It should, but he didn't tell us what the LED is doing.
1982 Camper 1970 1500 Beetle Various Skoda's, Ariel Arrow

User avatar
ELVIS
Trader
Posts: 2316
Joined: 14 Sep 2006, 16:22
80-90 Mem No: 3111

Re: 2.0 Aircooled: Man hours to replace Alternator?

Post by ELVIS »

Hacksawbob wrote:if the light on on the dash goes out I'm not worried


:run

But does the light turn on in the first place? If light don't work, it won't charge , simples.

If one of the LED legs isn't fitted properly it will make intermitant contact.

Not overanalysing , cheap/easy bit of trouble shooting bro :ok

paulo999
Registered user
Posts: 225
Joined: 08 Feb 2011, 22:05
80-90 Mem No: 9365
Location: London

Re: 2.0 Aircooled: Man hours to replace Alternator?

Post by paulo999 »

Fault showed up because I have an ammeter and voltmeter fitted. Ammeter is configured to show neg when drawing from battery, pos when charging.

The neg indication corresponds with steady decline in voltage.

There'll be occasions when it does get charge; anything from a few seconds to five minutes, but soon enough it's not charging again and the steady collapse continues.

I've meters the voltage at the alternator end and it's consistent with those readings. :(

paulo999
Registered user
Posts: 225
Joined: 08 Feb 2011, 22:05
80-90 Mem No: 9365
Location: London

Re: 2.0 Aircooled: Man hours to replace Alternator?

Post by paulo999 »

Now the next challenge... where to find an alternator :shock:

JK & VW Heritage out of stock. Brickwerks have a series of web pages about not phoning them, how it's wasting their time, which leads to a page with no phone number - chortle.

So, the hunt for an alternator is on! All tips welcome :D

User avatar
marlinowner
Registered user
Posts: 1530
Joined: 28 Jan 2014, 12:02
80-90 Mem No: 13646
Location: Scottish Borders

Re: 2.0 Aircooled: Man hours to replace Alternator?

Post by marlinowner »

Its worth taking the regulator of the alternator and cleaning up the contacts before changing the alternator, doing that sorted charging problems on mine.
1993 SA VW T25/T3 2.5i Microbus/homebrew camper
1981/1968 Marlin Kitcar TR6 Engine

lefty67
Registered user
Posts: 1919
Joined: 29 Sep 2012, 12:00
80-90 Mem No: 11783
Location: s. cheshire

Re: 2.0 Aircooled: Man hours to replace Alternator?

Post by lefty67 »

paulo999 wrote:Now the next challenge... where to find an alternator :shock:

JK & VW Heritage out of stock. Brickwerks have a series of web pages about not phoning them, how it's wasting their time, which leads to a page with no phone number - chortle.

So, the hunt for an alternator is on! All tips welcome :D

try googling brickwerks phone number
1.9td AAZ

T25 - an adventure before dementia

paulo999
Registered user
Posts: 225
Joined: 08 Feb 2011, 22:05
80-90 Mem No: 9365
Location: London

Re: 2.0 Aircooled: Man hours to replace Alternator?

Post by paulo999 »

Just googled "Brickwerks Phone Number".

That was an eye opener :-o

Locked