Changing alternator in D2 FL 3.7

[notorious]

Did anyone change alternator on facelift D2 with V8 40v engine?

Interested to know if it can be done at home?
With access from below the car of course.

Specifically interested how can I slacken off the ribbed belt
without disassembling the front of the car?

Any help will be appreciated. I'm not very mechanically minded, but I do change oil myself!

[MikkiJayne]

You can get to the tensioner from underneath with a 17(?)mm spanner and slacken it off to remove the belt. If you have a 6mm pin or long M6 bolt you can lock it in place so it doesn't spring back.

I don't recall if there is room to get the alternator out with the front panel attached though. I'll have a look in Elsawin later and see if there is a procedure for it

[notorious]

Cheers Mikki. I looked at ELSA before posting, but pictures in ELSA are related to prefacelift with an old tensioner. Here's a pic I found on internet.

[Ameiseuk]

It is doable from under the car if its on jack stands.
Taking the bumper off and undertray off will help.

Tensioner will need pinned in the released position.if you're not pilling the front end out of the way.

3 wires on the back (2 bolted on and 1 spade terminal)
2 bolts on the front and some brute force should see it drop out the bottom of the car. A good liberal dose of wd40 round the bolts and mounting faces will help

[notorious]

Cheers Ameiseuk.
I plan to leave bumper and front end in place.
Car on high jacks, with undertray off.

[notorious]

One more question:

Audi supplies new alternator without pulley.
Is it difficult to transplant the pulley from old generator to the new one?
ELSA recommends 'special tools'.