Alternator problems 82 Rabbit

[lapper842]

I just bought this 82 rabbit diesel a few days ago.. i got it home and got plates for it and took it for a lil test drive. i drove about 30 miles to get fuel and when i went to restart it....it was like the battery was dead. i push started it myself and drove about 17 to 20 miles home before it stopped running. its not charging but the alternator thats on it the blades of it are hitting on a bracket. anthing i should know about before tearing into changing the alternator?

[veedubmechanic]

someone might have accidentally put on a alternator from a gas engine. I dont think the diesel has blades on it

[zagrot]

i recognize that problem, the alternator bolt is probably broken. if that is the case you'll need to replace it with a bolt that has an allen head because a hex cap bolt won't seat properly in the recessed area in the bracket. you'll have the most luck finding those freakishly long 8.8 metric allen headed bolts at a specialty fastener store. the reason that mine had an appetite for alternator blots was the bushing on the alternator bracket had become siezed and was not contacting the alternator so the bolt was put under shear stress rather than tenstile stress. to fix the problem i had to remove the alternator and liberaly apply wd-40 to the metal bushing and use a draw bolt and hollow spacer (read: deep socket) to break the thing loose. once it was moving i reinstalled the alternator and tightened everything untill the bushing contacted the alternator base and haven't had a problem since. if your bushing is badly ate up replacements are available but difficult to find, or if you have access to machine tools you could turn one yourself. just so everything is clear, the metal bushing that i am refering to is on the lower alternator bracket; it is the hollow cylindrical thing sticking out of the right side of the cast iron part that the alternator sits in.

hope that helps

not that i'm trying to debase anyone, but i have a 90 amp alternator from an '88 vw something or another in my '81, it is the one with the stud that accepts the large crimp on ring terminal insted of that dinky plug. i also installed a 4 awg. wire going directly from the alternator to the starter B+ terminal, i think it is the best thing i have ever done for that car. driving at night has been a pleasure after that upgrade, i'd recomend it to anyone.