Audi Alternator is a PITA!!!

[yacob.naif 10+ year member]

Does anyone know how to get the positive battery lead off of a 1999 Audi A6, or any audi with a 30v V6???

Ive spent 10 hours this weekend trying to get it off, but theres about 1 inch between the bolt holding the cable on and the oil dipstick tube going to the oil pan. I dont know what to do.

I tried all my sockets, all my extensions, universals, even made a wrench out of an allen wrench and a 13mm socket, all to no avail. And a wrench wont work because of the stupid plastic guards they put on either side of the bolt to keep things from grounding out on it.

Anyways, im disgustingly aggrevated with the entire project, and for the sake of getting to work tomorrow, i have my alternator cable and my starter cable (i split the cable connecting the two) spliced to a power distrubtion block, along with my new 0 gauge battery cable, and Its beyond a hackjob, i dont even like thinking about it.

Anyone have an idea of how to get in there? Otherwise next weekend, im tearing the front of the car off, and going in there elbow deep to rip out the alternator and do it out of the car. I really dont want to do that, i dont even know that i know how, that engine compartment is CRAMMED with graham cracker taste.

Ughh, thanks in advance if anyones done something similar before, or had the same problem. Its just not as easy as "popping out the alternator" because its water cooled, and the accessories are front-mounted, so the radiator and front clip will have to be dropped for access to the accessory rack......... The coolant alone for that car is $30, so....

Im gonna go try and stop thinking about this, i hate weekend projects that end up getting rigged for the sake of getting to work on monday. I havent left the house since yesterday morning, and worked on the **** car till 4:30 last night.

AND to add to it all, i cant use apostrophies because everytime i press that key, firefox goes to "search" AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

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[bri487 5,000+ posts]

you can use a ratcheting box end wrench and just take your time if you cant get too much of a turn on it, or you might be able to use a angle head ratchet or a swivel head extention.

 

[yacob.naif 10+ year member]

And has anyone gotten pblaster on their hands after busting the $@#% out of your knuckles while wrenching all weekend?

HOLY CRAP, is all ive got to say

 

[yacob.naif 10+ year member]

Ya, i have ratcheting snap-on wrenches, but the only place i WOULD be able to get a turn on the bolt is right where the factory cable is, and theres no room above the alternator either, i believe its part of the intake mani just above.

 

[yacob.naif 10+ year member]

Is there anywhere i can get really shallow sockets?

If i had a really shallow 1-8 in socket, i might be able to get it.

i cant use the slash either, this is weird

 

[bri487 5,000+ posts]

Ya, i have ratcheting snap-on wrenches, but the only place i WOULD be able to get a turn on the bolt is right where the factory cable is, and theres no room above the alternator either, i believe its part of the intake mani just above.

just remove whatever is in the way. everything is removable. just think it out.

btw, nice wrenches. my grandpa does a lot of machining for racing stuff, so he has a full snap on set of tools, everything. in the race trailer we use craftsman since stuff gets lost and loaned out and thrashed on all the time. at home i use snap on stuff though. i am building up my personal set slowly with all snap on. i love working with it. whenever i go to the stereo shop, i use his snap on stuff, thats all he uses. its a pleasure.

 

[bri487 5,000+ posts]

Is there anywhere i can get really shallow sockets?
If i had a really shallow 1-8 in socket, i might be able to get it.

i cant use the slash either, this is weird

someone makes one. just look for it. mac or snap on will have one for sure.

 

[yacob.naif 10+ year member]

Awesome, ya, i had to jury rig the wiring for now, i couldnt even get to the store to look for something this weekend. ill go look around after work tomorrow.

Ya, i picked up the "husy" mechanics toolset at lowes a few years ago, when it was the nicer gunmetal colored set for ~$100, and ive been slowly replaing my tools as they break with nicer gear. The husky stuff is top notch for an entry level "all-in-one" set for getting started, tho.

And the snap-on ratcheting wrenches are a must-have, cause theyre tapered to one side for a more flexibility, rather than being flat, and have a switch to change directions, rather than having to turn them around to tighten or loosen.

The oil dipstick is bolted on INSIDE the oilpan, i already looked at it, and its bolted on to the bottom of the intake manifold, i would have to move lots-o-stuff to get to the bolt. This car was def. designed to prevent people from working on it. Lucky me.

And if your a snap-on tool fan, the kobalt tools at lowes are re-labled snap-on. I love snap-on stuff because its so much lighter, smaller, and at the same time just as strong as craftsman and most of the other brands that come with lifetime replacement. Gotta keep it locked up, and hidden in my room, tho, the roomates dont seem to understand that its not ok to leave $10 a piece wrenches lying in the driveway