B5S4 alternator replacement. Who's done it?

[HIS4]

Mine is on its way out and I think I need to replace it ASAP before I get stuck on the road somewhere. With the A/C running and my engine running my voltage dips below 12V. Is this something that's easy to do or should I bite the bullet and try to have it done somewhere. Any special tools required. I wouldn't mind trying to DIY it but I've never taken my front end off before so I have no idea what's involved.

[HIstateS8]

if your battery light is on. Then yes you'll need to replace it stat! Damn, with the front totally off you might as well do your TB, waterpump and Thermostat if you haven't done it in a while. Good luck!

[HIS4]

if your battery light is on. Then yes you'll need to replace it stat! Damn, with the front totally off you might as well do your TB, waterpump and Thermostat if you haven't done it in a while. Good luck!

Battery light is not on but I think the only thing saving me from that is that I have a deep cycle battery that can hold itself up for awhile. Driving with the A/C off tonight I notice that the voltage is holding steady at around 13.5V or so but as soon as the A/C goes on it drops all the way to 12V. I also notice that if I start the car with the A/C turned on it barely reaches 12V but if I start it with the A/C off I'm getting 13.5V even with the lights and radio on. It may not be the alternator itself dying but possibly the voltage regulator. Either way, it requires the alternator be replaced.

As far as the TB, that was done about 20k miles ago so that should be good.

[Jesse S.]

Find the DIY and it can be done!

[Raudi]

Pulling the front off isn't too hard. Find the a DIY, I think someone on AW posted it.

[DefiantS4]

You can definitely do it yourself in a day if you don't mind wrenching on your own car and have the basic tools (metric sockets, torx bits, allen wrenches, etc). Dealer wanted $1300 to replace mine a year ago. I "politely declined" and did it myself with a refurbished unit from O'Reilly for ~$200. On the difficulty scale... installing and setting your old Stasis coilovers was a bigger PITA . Pulling the front end off really isn't as hard as it looks. Draining the coolant was the hardest part for me, since it can make quite a mess.

[HIS4]

On the difficulty scale... installing and setting your old Stasis coilovers was a bigger PITA .

I guess you got them in OK then. Glad they're working out for you.

[Thomas@TAI-VW]

I've done it,it ain't fun.....