Replacing alternator

[crawal]

Hi the red battery light came on last night. The auto elec tells me it is cactus , and orders a new Denso unit .
How hard are they to fit?
At 120 km is it worth putting on a new belt?
bit disapointed at so low k's to have to replace it , but would it have been the culprit for trans error codes a few weeks a go towing the van?

2008 TD6 SE

[Drizzle]

Probably a good time to change the belt if it hasn't been changed. You won't notice the cost of the belt so much as compared to the cost of the alternator...

Very good chance it caused the error codes. Failing batteries are also known to start giving random fault messages flagging the transmission etc.

There's a bit of info how to replace the alternator here:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/69060-tdv6-alternator-replacement.html

[matt_ali_walsh]

Most likely it's the rectifier in alternator. Not hard at all to replace, and about $35 delivered from Ireland via eBay. Beats $600+ for a new one imho.......

[crawal]

THanks Mattt , my auto elec has been bitten by just fixing "bits" in the alternator and suggested the full replacement , the belt i being picked up today.

[justinc]

Yes DO NOT replace bits in these Denso units. Unless you enjoy removing and refitting them on a regular basis.

The 120k is a pretty normal lifespan and at 150K I tell customers it is a maintenace item and should be done before they are stranded somewhere. Recently found out a tow truck from Strathgordon to Kingston (250km) was in excess of $700 so there goes the new alternator plus some fiting costs...

JC

[rar110]

Yes DO NOT replace bits in these Denso units. Unless you enjoy removing and refitting them on a regular basis. The 120k is a pretty normal lifespan and at 150K I tell customers it is a maintenace item and should be done before they are stranded somewhere. Recently found out a tow truck from Strathgordon to Kingston (250km) was in excess of $700 so there goes the new alternator plus some fiting costs... JC

My L322 alternator lasted longer but that seems very unusual. From reading this forum most seem to last a bit over the 100,000km. As JC says if it stops working, the dash starts flashing colours like a Christmas tree, and the motor just stops and you're stranded. You also risk killing your battery. My alternator tow was a long way from hm but close to a LR dealer, who estimated something like $2300 to get me going. I opted to get towed. Thankfully RACQ paid the $900 + towing fee.

[DazzaTD5]

Yes DO NOT replace bits in these Denso units. Unless you enjoy removing and refitting them on a regular basis.

The 120k is a pretty normal lifespan and at 150K I tell customers it is a maintenace item and should be done before they are stranded somewhere. Recently found out a tow truck from Strathgordon to Kingston (250km) was in excess of $700 so there goes the new alternator plus some fiting costs...

JC

There is no point in me repeating word for word what JC has said...

Often the battery dies and the alternator follows.

Regards
Daz

[Silver Anchor]

Must be something in the air, did mine yesterday at 144k, $1000 for the alt $645 to fit

[DazzaTD5]

Must be something in the air, did mine yesterday at 144k, $1000 for the alt $645 to fit

That unfortunately is a genuine price, although the OEM (Denso) one is round $600 plus freight to you.

Regards
Daz

[Oztourer]

Replaced mine myself in around 1/2 an hour about 6 weeks ago - $650 genuine DENSO. Trickiest bit was to loosen the viscous coupling fan. Plenty of threads on the forum on various ways to do this if you don't have the right tool.

[crawal]

Got every thing ready the fan is a pain run out of time tonight , had a go trying to hold with spanners locking it up but....:mad:

[Oztourer]

Got every thing ready the fan is a pain run out of time tonight , had a go trying to hold with spanners locking it up but....:mad:

As suggested on another forum somewhere, I cut a length of square tube and ran it vertically from the front cross member up to the underside of one of the bolts in the fan. Rotate the fan to lock the tube in place then get your spanned onto the main nut. I had to use a persuasion tool (hammer) to loosen it. Remember it's a reverse thread so you need to loosen clockwise looking from the front. I also needed to trim the end of the tube at the top to allow clearance for the spanner. Once the fan is off its an easy job. You also need a 1/4 socket attachment on a longish bar to lever the tensioner pulley away from the drive belt. There is a square hole on the pull that is for this purpose. Good luck.

[crawal]

Thanks Oztourer, made up a bit of rhs with a small tab for one of the boltd, worked a treat .
Got the alternator today gen Denso for under $600 :D:D
Easy job now to bolt it all up , put on a new belt just to be sure
Just making a list of what needs to be fixed next...

[mikel]

JC
Are there any reliable telltale signs of a failing Alternator in the D4?

Cheers
Mike L

[crawal]

No warning light just came on ..
Did have some trans error messages , maybe related ????

[rar110]

No warning light just came on .. Did have some trans error messages , maybe related ????
same here

[jonesy63]

I had my D4 alternator replaced last year before it completely failed. The sign of failure - was an electronics burning smell - which I believe was the plastic holder that the rectifier diodes are moulded in.