i heard a noise coming from the engine on my 1996 audi a4 2.8 and it turned out to be the alternator, anyone have directions or a website that can help me put the new one in myself?

 

What kind of noise was it? My car has been humming and im thinking it is the alternator as well, just wanted to see if you were having the same symptoms or if it was a different noise

 

It was a loud like humming or grinding, it was constant

 

Mine knocked/rattled when it was dying

 

Yah thats what mine was doing, humming i replaced it and now its gone. Its pretty easy to replace it, idk about on the 2.8 but for my 1.8 your gonna have to tear it all apart, take off the front radiator support and everything. and I myself had to pull the fan clutch off to get one of the alternator bolts out, you might have to do this as well but its not all that hard no need to buy a tool just get creative.

 

Follow a DIY for a timing belt (and if you're even remotely approaching the time the t-belt is due, do that whole deal as well so you don't duplicate the labor). That'll get everything out of your way so you can swap out the alternator.

 

I hate to be contradictory, but really??? I swapped mine out in my driveway in about 15 mins, no service position, nothing removed but the upper boost pipe

 

The 2.8 is pretty tight underhood and the alternator is wedged in there. It can be changed by sliding the bumper forward (but not disconnecting the radiator and going fully into service position, but it's awfully tight and a general pain in the ***). On the OP's V6, the way to give himself the most ability to see and maneuver is to open the front of the car.

I'm jealous of your quick-change ability on the 1.8T though lol - wish our V6s were that quick!