Help: which way to undo alternator pulley?

[pphilpot]

Hi all – well, the alternator is out all ready to remove the pulley, but it's stuck solid. Looking at the new pulley, the thread is anti-clockwise to put it on, but the Haynes manual says to unscrew it anti-clockwise while holding the hex spline to remove it. I'm either turning it the wrong way, or the new pulley is incorrect!

Help!

Thakns

[pphilpot]

IGNORE. The Haynes manual misled me. It turns the other way. D'Oh.

[cheshired5]

When I've done them on other cars, it's been as Haynes says, which is anti-clockwise to undo, clockwise to refit and the torx counterholds.
Like what this guy does at 3:15 but he uses an impact driver which overcomes the need for the counterhold.

+ YouTube Video

My D5 pulley was put on by my main dealer though so I can't say for definite but I'd be surprised if it was any different.

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by pphilpot

IGNORE. The Haynes manual misled me. It turns the other way. D'Oh.

Well you live and learn.......
Another black mark for Haynes.
I ignored Haynes when removing the alternator as it says to undo power steering pipes and drain fluid......which I didn't.

[chiptivo]

How did you find the job??? I need mine doing, but not sure I have the confidence to take the alternator out?

[pphilpot]

Originally Posted by chiptivo

How did you find the job??? I need mine doing, but not sure I have the confidence to take the alternator out?

OK, once I turned the pulley the correct way to undo it. Hahaha.

I also removed the intercooler hose which gave me more room to a) loosen the AC bolts, and b) lift the alternator out.

I didn't remove the PAS pump, just moved it and the fluid reservoir, as there's plenty of room with them both just moved to one side.

By the way, I'm a hobby DIY car fixer, and only have basic driveway tools, so I'm not coming at this with a lifetime of experience!

I purchased this set of pulley removal tools, as the cars I buy are all 80,000 miles plus, so I will have to do this job again

[pphilpot]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

Well you live and learn.......
Another black mark for Haynes.
I ignored Haynes when removing the alternator as it says to undo power steering pipes and drain fluid......which I didn't.

I could have been reading it incorrectly :

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by pphilpot

I also removed the intercooler hose which gave me more room to a) loosen the AC bolts, and b) lift the alternator out.

I left the i/c pipe alone.
The bottom aircon compressor bolts only need to be loosened 10mm to allow wriggle room and the top aircon bolts (bottom alternator bolts) only have to be withdrawn far enough to free the alternator.

Originally Posted by pphilpot

I could have been reading it incorrectly :

I'd have read and understood what Haynes says the same way as you.