Alright guys... well last week I posted that my newly aquired A4 started going haywire when I put a custom k&n filter. After messing around with everything I just swapped the stock filter back on and no problems whatsoever. Weird.
But now my alternator hit the can. Being an idiot I bought a new battery and it sucked its juices out right away. The stealership rapes me at $1200 for a bosch/labor and a local shop for $850. But I ordered a remanufactured Bosch unit for $210 and im gonna take on this task alone.

Now does anyone on here had to do it themselves? Can anyone gimme a link directing me to an alternator DIY? Any enlightenment much appreciated! Like most of you know im new into the 1.8t scene so im not too sure where the alt. is. Haven't got a good look at it since it at my girls house (I wasn't about to pay 450 for a tow!)

So whatever input you got is welcomed. Thanks!

 

Your first source for something like this is a good repair manual. Haynes will do just fine for a simple problem like this.

The Alternator is near the bottom of the 1.8T motor. You'll need to remove the belly pan. Once you do that it'll be really obvious. Be sure to disconnect your battery before starting this project. If you haven't change the belt in a while you might want to do that too.

 

I don't know if this will help or if you care, but look into getting AAA. Free towing for 3 miles, than 3 dollars per mile after that. Also, when you've been a member for a year, you can sign up for AAA Plus.. and get 100 miles of free towing, 4 times a year.

Also most insurance companies, at least the ones in my state, give free towing for a certain amount of miles also.

Just thought I'd throw that out there if your car ever got stuck somewhere and you didn't want to get ripped off on towing costs.

 

Yeah I do have that coverage in my insurance but it was 45 miles from my house. So its a trip. I guess it hit the can at the right time at her house. If it had happened elsewhere then I would get it towed. Thanks either way tho.

 

i would give my left leg and bet that u put in the MAF backwards... I did the same mistake... I would try it again and messin around with the direction of the MAF!

 

I marked each side of the MAF so I could tell which side would go into the filter from the beginning so I know it was on right. I sprayed the sensor with elec. cleaner like chaos suggested, exhanged K&N filters and messed with the codes and nothing fixed it until I got fed up with the bullsh*t and swapped the stock filter back in. All the lights in my dash cleared. ABS, ESP, and CEL all went off. I guess my car is just a picky SOB cuz the same set up was done on my friends B6 and my A6.
That's cleared tho.

 

Okay so I ordered the 90 amp Bosch alternator. It doesn't matter wether its a Valeo or Bosch right? Do either units work or do I have to install a certain one for my car. BTW its a 2001 A4 1.8tqt