Has anybody ever replaced the alternator on an A33? If so could you fit it out the top or do you need to take out the AC compressor to get the alternator out the bottom? I hope I don't have to bring it out the bottom because I don't want to recharge the AC too. I know it's not hard but it's just one more thing to do, ya know? Any help would be awesome. Thanks a lot!
Josh

 

I just replaced my alternator twice a week and half ago. Your gonna have to take it out by the bottom. I didnt have toi recharge my ac tho. Take off the radiator fans. Loosen up hoses and unbolt and put to the side the compressor and you should be able to access all of the bolts and take it out.

 

ok awesome, so I don't even need to take out the radiator, just take out the fans, loosen hoses and take her out. Awesome, Thanks a lot!

 

FYI, he does not mean to losen up the AC lines (hoses), as you probably understand. Then you would have to recharge the system.

 

Just got it done. I just pulled out the fans along with the radiator and pulle dit out like that. It was a pain in the *** getting the main alternator bolt back in but all in all it wasn't that bad.

 

Yea that back bolt is the only pain in the whole process. Besides that everything else is cake.

 

I took mine out the bottom. I used a jackstand to hold the A/C compressor while I maneuvered the alternator around it. It was a ***** and a half, but it only took an hour and a half from start to finish.

 

That's not bad at all. Took me a little longer but I also had to swap the pulley. To do that I had to take it to a shop that had a air gun.

 

ok so I am new and i am sure this has been answered before but is the alt on this car (02 i35) durable enough to hold 2 amps total RMS will be about 1200, i will put a nice 5 farad cap to take some of the stress off but its still a lot of power and i am wondering if anyone has had to replace their alternator due to a powerful sound system. BTW i am new to this board, you guys rule! so much happy info here!

 

There are a lot of guys pushing big systems with the stock alt. You should be fine.

You might want to post this in the Audio forum though. Im sure you will get all of the answers you need over there.