Help! V70 Alternator bolts (all three) sheared

[Elmer Fudd]

Thanks chaps, its a 212bhp D5 lump - access even with the alternator removed is going to be very tight.... My concern is that I'm not sure the current guy didn't do a bit of a bodge when he replaced the initial missing bolt which was the single top bolt which runs parallel with the front axle. When I realised it was missing there was the end couple of mm of the bolt sticking out the other end of the thread (it bolts straight through what looks like an alloy 'bracket' about 20mm wide. After the bolt was replaced it looked very much like this end bit was/is still in place, so I'm guessing he just screwed in a 'short' bolt and as far as I know it may only have been in by a couple of threads. With hindsight I wish Id' stayed with him to see exactly what he did!

The two bottom bolts which hold the alternator run front to back & I think pass through the bracket which holds n various components and I think that threads are hence in the block....

Because the alternator has been removed several times this may be the cause of the problem with the bolts shearing as I don't imagine they've ever been replaced with new ones... However the fact that I am on my 4th alternator suggests something maybe wrong with the auto tensioner? Can these fail so that they exert max pressure on the belt which may be trashing the alternator bearings etc?

I am planning on calling to see the guy who fitted the last alternator tomorrow to have a conversation as to whether he is 100% comfortable tackling the job and if not I want to take it to someone who is confident to do it - any recommendations please in Kent?

My worry is that if the job is mucked up in any way I'm going to end up with a scrap engine and hence scrapped car!

[Ian21401]

I’ve just had a look at my daughter’s XC70. Wasn’t able to see much without removing stuff and she wouldn’t let me do that. The bolts in question appear to go into a lump of alloy and appear to be about 10mm hex head. Is that part of the engine block, or is it separate from but secured to the block? I wasn’t able to see well enough.
No doubt some of you 70 owners will know.
Maybe there would be more response if this thread was in the relevant section.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Ian21401

I’ve just had a look at my daughter’s XC70. Wasn’t able to see much without removing stuff and she wouldn’t let me do that. The bolts in question appear to go into a lump of alloy and appear to be about 10mm hex head. Is that part of the engine block, or is it separate from but secured to the block? I wasn’t able to see well enough.
No doubt some of you 70 owners will know.
Maybe there would be more response if this thread was in the relevant section.

those 10mm bolts are in the block nothing to do with the alternator which uses 17mm A/F bolts

[Ian21401]

Difficult to see with everything in situ and using a mirror. The bolt heads I was seeing seemed to replicate the images in Haynes description of how to remove the alternator. One near the top orientated across the car and two at the bottom orientated for and aft.