Removing Alternator 2002tii 1974

[abe2002tii]

PIA.....I have a stock AL40X alternator and I could not get it out from underneath.  The oil pan and the anti sway bar did not allow the alternator to sneak out no matter how I positioned it.  It may be the anti sway bar is a little larger in diameter than stock.... So I had to take the pulley/fan  off the alternator and then I was able to get it out. 

I am wondering if anyone had the same issue. My car has not been in any accidents....motor mounts looks good too so I do not think that was the cause of such a tight space.

Abe

Edited June 30, 2017 by abe2002tii

[Conserv]

1 hour ago, abe2002tii said:

PIA.....I have a stock AL40X alternator and I could not get it out from underneath.  The oil pan and the anti sway bar did not allow the alternator to sneak out no matter how I positioned it.  It may be the anti sway bar is a little larger in diameter than stock.... So I had to take the pulley/fan  off the alternator and then I was able to get it out. 

I am wondering if anyone had the same issue. My car has not been in any accidents....motor mounts looks good too so I do not think that was the cause of such a tight space.

Abe

 

Not unusual.  Probably a larger anti-sway bar.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[abe2002tii]

Thanks...if they only made the oil pan a little smaller.

 

Abe

[JohnS]

I've run into the same issue on my two tiis.  Both have beefier (Dinan) anti-sway bars.  I unbolt one side of the bar to get the alternator out.  It's still a PITA though...

[thehackmechanic]

I know of no way to get the alternator out of a tii without unbolting the sway bar and sliding it forward. The alternator will then come out by rotating it exactly the right way and dropping it past the oil pan.

[jgerock]

Stupid battery location with a weld in tray doesn't help. Replacing the alternator was one of the first things I did on my tii and that was with stock sway bars.  Steep learning curve for me.

[OriginalOwner]

I make sure I have a firm grip on the alternator.  Then I insert a Big Crowbar in there somewhere and shove the swaybar toward the passenger side.  The alternator then drops free .... MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A FIRM GRIP ON THE ALTERNATOR !!

 

NOW, if you've got a too-thick sway bar, it might not work ........

 

Cheers,

 

Carl

 

Edited July 1, 2017 by OriginalOwner

[wegweiser]

I loosen the shackle on the swaybar (driver's side) and even occasionally undo the end link bolts/nuts. Even then, like Rob says, it's a pain in the arse. Even with stock sway bars. 

 

I performed this repair in 1989....on the side of a Denver CO highway, en route from PA to Arizona...while lying in a pile of fire ants, after flagging a taxi to get me to Ralph Schomp BMW and back...to buy a tii alternator...that they miraculously had IN STOCK (!!!)  

 

At your home, this should be much less stressful.  

 

 

[Mike Self]

6 hours ago, wegweiser said:

I performed this repair in 1989....on the side of a Denver CO highway, en route from PA to Arizona...while lying in a pile of fire ants, after flagging a taxi to get me to Ralph Schomp BMW and back...to buy a tii alternator...that they miraculously had IN STOCK (!!!)  

You forgot about the coyote gnawing on your feet as you were under the car and the rattlesnake that had curled up next to the engine to keep warm...

 

Actually I'm not surprised that Schomp had the part in stock.  I drove my first BMW at that dealership in the fall of 1967--a 2000CS coupe!  The lot was full of 6 volt 1600s, NK sedans and a few coupes...they're one of the oldest BMW dealerships in the US.

 

mike

[wegweiser]

2 hours ago, mike said:

You forgot about the coyote gnawing on your feet as you were under the car and the rattlesnake that had curled up next to the engine to keep warm...

 

Actually I'm not surprised that Schomp had the part in stock.  I drove my first BMW at that dealership in the fall of 1967--a 2000CS coupe!  The lot was full of 6 volt 1600s, NK sedans and a few coupes...they're one of the oldest BMW dealerships in the US.

 

mike

I can still hear them howling, on dark, lonely nights..... *shiver*

[FB73tii]

On June 30, 2017 at 2:07 PM, abe2002tii said:

... So I had to take the pulley/fan  off the alternator and then I was able to get it out. 

 

Abe--yep, that is how I used to do it. Pretty straightforward. --Fred

[Simeon]

3 hours ago, wegweiser said:

I can still hear them howling, on dark, lonely nights..... *shiver*

 

The alternator bearings?

[OriginalOwner]

what ??  remove pulley/fan ??  There's something new for my toolbox ..... Thanks !!

 

Cheers,

 

Carl

 

[abe2002tii]

It was easier to remove the pulley/fan than have to loosen up the anti sway bar.  It allowed just enough wiggle room to get the alternator out.

abe

[2002#3]

Mine went in relatively easily from the front:  through the nose and down into place.  Of course, the radiator was out at the time...

Larry