Lower alternator R&R labor

Don't know on a 400, but on a 412, it should not take more than 1 hour to remove and another hour to put back - anymore than that, it means you are either incompetent or overcharging.

 

The lower one is a pain for sure as you have many ancilaries in the way.

Has he tried to change the regulator and the brushes first? An alternator replaced during your ownership should still have good bearings, rectifier bridge and collector.

Regulator would be a one hour job.

 

Removing the hood (which takes 10 min) makes it much easier.

 

If the alternator is off then have it gone through. Putting in brushes and a regulator would be a major brain fart move. One problem among many Ive seen is the insulation for the armature wires to the slip rings disappears over time and shorts out on the steel body. Worth opening up.

 

When I first got my '84 400i, I did a complete belt change. It took 8 hours (2 shifts). Getting the lower alternator off is not that difficult; the belts are the harder part. I made some notes about changing belts; there are some tricks required due to Ferrari just not caring how long it takes. The top alternator is easy but its belt is tough to get over the drive pulley on the steering pump. (No need to do that to get the lower alternator out.) My estimate is 2 hours to R&R the lower alternator.
Ken

 

I was suggesting to do it "in situ": removing the regulator is not an horrendous job, and the part is cheap.

We've got to bear in mind that the regulator does include the commutator brushes. Brushes do wear. Assuming that @miami355 did replace the alternators with new ones last time, I would just take a chance on the $25 regulator/brushes.

If the alternator is still faulty with a new regulator & brushes, time to remove all the ancillaries from the engine bay and put the alternator on the bench.

 

That is something I’ve done several times over the years. Makes a huge difference when working on the front on the engine.

 

We approach things from two very different angles. I like to do it right and once rather than incrementally until the problem is solved.

 

Ken,
What is the best technique to get the lower alternator removed? My lower alternator has failed and need to remove it. Any tips are very welcome and much appreciated. Many thanks.

 

In all fairness would you change the alternator without replacing the belts? That's basically the subject of this thread: replacing alternators and belt is a one day job, replacing just the alternator cuts the labour in half, but does it make sense to install a brand new alternator with old belts?

If the objective of the OP is to make an economical repair let's make it cheap.

As a side note, after several disappointments with core exchange, I did rebuild my last 3 alternators myself (unsolder the rectifier bridge, test the diodes, test the winding & true the commutator). Except from one bearing, the culprits were the brushes (i.e the regulator module). I am now using transpo regulators from a local shop (old stock). No more issues.

 

Not suggesting anyone blow money like a fool because its a Ferrari but pinching pennies isn't ideal either. If cost cutting is the approach then buy a chevy.

Unless the belts were just replaced prior to the alternator issue I would replace them. They're cheap and kind of important and if they're hard to replace too bad. If you want reliability rebuild both alternators and replace the belts, they're probably long overdue. If someone debates a fan belt change what else is the car lacking in service?