mungewell wrote:
Q. Can the alternator bracket be removed from engine without tearing too much apart?
Hi - just done this on our 2.8 CRD - the alternator is quite easily removed - disconnect the battery first otherwise you'll have a live wire floating around.
There's two plastic multi clips to detach, a 13mm bolt under a cover on the top of the alternator holds down the main feed to the battery (this is the one that's live if battery not disconnected). Once you have the wires off there's two bolts on the front of the alternator (that also hold on a round fitting that supports one of the engine cover mountings) - remove those plus one to the back of the alternator that bolts through the support bracket.
Look along the bracket and you'll see a further two bolts into the block - these can just be slackened off to allow you to wiggle the alternator off - access to all these bolts is good especially if you have an extension bar for a socket set.
If you're going to take the pulley off the alternator then try rattling it off with an air gun - I spent hours breaking various different tools as I was too lazy to fetch the compressor and gun - once I had it was literally seconds to spin the thing off.
Graeme