How to Change an Alternator in a Volkswagen Jetta
Like all vehicles, the Volkswagen Jetta's alternator uses the car's mechanical energy to recharge the car battery. If the alternator is no good, the battery will gradually lose power and quickly die, because it takes a lot of power to start the car. A bad alternator needs to be changed quickly to avoid having to change the battery repeatedly. Use caution when changing an alternator, because you are dealing with a main component with the electrical system.
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Things You'll Need
- Phillips screwdriver
- Torx screwdriver
- Pliers
- Box-end wrench
- Socket wrench
- Alternator
Instructions
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Removing the Alternator
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1
Disconnect the negative cable--which is the black one--from the car battery.
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2
Remove the cover from the engine by removing all screws to the it (these can require a Phillips and/or Torx screwdriver), disconnecting the intake hose clamp with pliers and pulling the cover off of the mounts.
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3
Remove the alternator drive belt. Attach a box-end wrench to the belt tensioner from below and use it to release the tension so the belt will slip off the pulleys. Make sure you know the exact path that the belt was looped around the pulleys; there may be a diagram printed somewhere in the engine compartment showing this path.
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4
Disconnect the electrical connections for the alternator. This will be one main electrical connector and another output wire that will be close to each other on the alternator.
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5
Remove the mounting bolts for the alternator with a wrench and remove the alternator from the engine.
Installing the New Alternator
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6
Purchase the replacement alternator after you remove the old one. Take the old alternator with you to the shop to make sure you get a replacement that is exactly like the old one. It needs to have the same identification numbers (stamped on the housing or on a tag attached to it) and have terminals with the same size, number and location.
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7
Check to see if the new alternator has a pulley installed. If it doesn't, switch the pulley from the old alternator to the new one. The shop you purchased it from may do this for you and might do it free of charge.
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8
Install the alternator in reverse order of removing the old one--fasten it in place with the mounting bolts and attach the electrical connectors.
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9
Reinstall all other parts to the engine. Loosen the belt tensioner again and install the drive belt, making sure it follows the same path as before. Put the engine cover back in place and reconnect the battery cable.
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