Hi everyone, another new guy here. I decided to join you all because I recently bought a 2000 V70 and I would like to take responsibility for maintaining this vehicle myself. However, I don't have much experience with car repair. I worked as a "lube tech" for about a year and gained an understanding of how vehicles operate doing that but I only know how to do simple maintenance.


Yesterday the alternator went out so I decided to tackle this myself. I watched a video and was tinkering around a bit and decided to go back to the drawing board. Does anyone have any pointers or tips of how to properly install an alternator on this model?


In advanced I would like to thank anyone for reading this and providing me with any information. I really want to learn more about my vehicle and take responsibility for maintaining it. I know it needs more repairs but this is my first step. Thanks.

 

Raccoon44, hello and welcome to the forum! Nice to have you here. This site is a tremendous resource due to the members, hope you stick around and find it useful. Feel free to reach out if you ever needed anything.

 

Welcome to the forum Raccoon

 

What video did you watch? One for replacing the alternator on that car or a general video? If it was for that car... Just follow the instructions.

 

More videos. The 850 and 70 should be quite similar.

https://www.google.com/#q=youtube+volvo+alternator

 

Great, thanks for the warm welcome and suggestions... I am going to replace this part today.

 

Besides it just being tight in there the big thing for me was fighting the tensioner with a pry bar trying to get the belt off and later back on without loosing a finger.

The proper tool is so much better. One of the guys here might still be selling that tool fairly cheap - Volvo Forums - Volvo Enthusiasts Forum - View Profile: rspi

They are also on ebay - Volvo Serpentine Tension Belt Removal Tool 4708 | eBay

I haven't found any of the rental kits from Oreilly or Autozone to fit

 

It is extremely tight in there... I am having a difficult time getting the new one in there. Did you take out the power steering pump when you replaced yours Kiss4aFrog?

 

I have heard other people having problems getting the Bosch to fit into the 2000 V70. I will most likely get a grinder tomorrow and make it fit in there.

 

Take the power steering pump off. If you need the grinder, you're doing it wrong.

 

Hopefully you're joking about the grinder.

 

If I take the power steering pump off wont I have to drain all the power steering fluid out of the system? It seems easier to mod the alternator with a grinder to get it to fit in there. I was trying to get it to fit in there for hours yesterday. It seems like even with the removal of the power steering pump that it might not go in.

 

Sorry, but not everything is easy if you want to do it right. And in the hours you spent trying to get it to fit, you could have just done it the right way and been done. Some fluid will come out, but so what?

 

I am not sure how much fluid will come out. I have read about other people filing down the alternator because it is refurbished and having no problems with it. I was wondering what the problem is with grinding down the part that is too big to fit in the slot?

 

If I were to do it right wouldn't I bleed the entire power steering system in addition to taking off the pump? How do I drain the power steering fluid?

 

Just disconnect the lines from the pump and remove it. Put it back together and refill it. Bleeding it is simple. Fill it, start the car and turn the wheel lock to lock a few times. Top it off.

Or hack it in there.

 

Even with the power steering pump out of there the alternator is not fitting in there. In my opinion the best thing I can do is grind down the alternator just enough so it will fit in the slots.

 

I have never had an issue getting this done in an hour without a grinder.

 

I don't think the problem I am having is very common but I have found other people having the same issue.




"Mine was Bosch, I took a grinder to it at the top mounting hole, and squeezed it in. I dont think it will suffer at all, its very beefy where i took some metal off. Your video was perfect. very clear and to the point.( )"


Taking off a bit of metal is much better than wasting more hours bashing my up arms trying to fit the bastard in there as it is.