Hello. I have to replace the alternator on my 2002 V6 Passat. I can get the parts, but i would prefer to do the labor myself. Has anyone had any experience with replacing an alternator in this vehicle. I was able to get out the top bolt, with a 5/16th alan wrench... but i cannot get to that bottom bolt. I can't quite get my hands down there or a wratchet, and was wondering what all i would have to do to get to it? :banghead: Or maybe a special tool? It looks just like a 13mm standard bolt.

Also, what size is the tensioner bolt to loosen the belt?

thank you all very much... i'm hoping to knock this thing out myself and save several hundred dollars.

Why are you replacing an alternator. I have never seen an alternator go bad on a v6 passat before. and a 2002, its still warranty if you have less than 50k on it.

All the typical symptoms of an alternator going bad and the alternator/battery light came on. I charged the battery, then it went dead again. I guess there is a first for everything. But I got it out, and ordered one online for $153. Much better than $417 part + $255 labor the local dealer wanted. It was a bit difficult to get out, took me about an hour. I had to remove the fan shroud and one other bracket, but all in all it was that bad... although i've taken an alternator out in my mustang in littlerly 5 minutes. Oh well. Hopefully I just saved myself $500 + for a few hand scrapes and scratches working in such a tight area.

Oh yeah, my wife and I have racked up 70K miles already. No Warranty.

I would have had the battery tested at a reputable battery testing place (i think autozone does it for free and sears)

But if the car is running and things are going dim, and many of the things in the car that beep, aren't beeping, etc... after the car starts, the alternator takes care of all of that stuff. The battery doesn't. And if the battery is loosing charge during travel, then it is doing the lights, and beeping, and not getting charged by the dead alternator that should be doing all that stuff.

All the alternator does is charge the battery. If the battery cant hold a charge the vehicles electrical systems wont get the proper voltage. A brand new alternator cant charge a dead battery any better than a alternator with 70k on it can. And batteries are alot cheaper than an alternator.

But then again you never know alternators can go bad also.

New alternator is on, no more problems. Battery is fine.