Help! V70 Alternator bolts (all three) sheared

[Elmer Fudd]

I have a V70 with 149k on the clock and live in Canterbury Kent. Out last night, luckily close to home and the charging failure warning came up. Stopped and lifted the bonnet to find the alternator sitting on the engine with all three mounting bolts sheared off with the end of the bolts still inside the aluminium (?) engine housing so no ends showing….

I had the original alternator replaced at 84k due to squealing from either the clutch or a bearing. The Indy Volvo garage that fitted it replaced with a non-genuine Volvo item that constantly played up (non-charging light would come on periodically – easily cured by turning the engine off and on again). At 112k charging failure again and the car had to be recovered after the alternator belt fell off – replaced with a genuine Volvo part.

Eventually after nearly a year and at 121k miles this alternator also became noisy and was replaced under warranty by the Indy garage. Due to a series of issues with this garage I had decided to go elsewhere in future and was recommended a local one man band who ‘specialised’ in Volvos.

At 144k miles (20th Feb 19) I yet again had a complete charging failure and the car was recovered to the new guy’s garage. I wanted to now fit an original Volvo alternator but as the old one was not a Volvo unit the cost to exchange was going to be prohibitive so a Bosch unit was fitted.

A few weeks later a slight screeching noise was heard which sounded like a belt so I popped the bonnet to find the top alternator bolt missing (I wasn’t sure if it had come loose and fallen out or snapped–off) and the alternator was being pulled off centre by the belt so was sitting at an angle although appeared to be at least charging the battery. I immediately took it back to the garage where a new bolt was fitted and no explanation given as to what might have happened. When I got home I found a snapped bolt sat under the alternator which I assumed was either the original one or else one he had tried to fit….. I am now thinking that this bolt was probably one of the other bottom bolts that had sheared off.

Spoke to my brother who runs a Landrover dealership (sadly 300 miles away) and he suggested it could be the tensioner assembly at fault which might make sense seeing as I have had so many issues with alternators. He suggested I have to give the guy who fitted the last alternator the chance to put things right but I am guessing it will be one pig of a job as to drill these bolts out will be a nightmare and either require a partial strip down or maybe even engine out? I need to hire/borrow a car and will he technically be responsible for the cost of this? What if he refuses to help – what recourse do I have?

So the question is now what to do – any advice appreciated and if anyone has any recommendations for any auto engineers who may be able to help please let me know.