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My SE has quite a while to go before I need to replace its belts. I've done a couple of alternator belt changes in my previous NA, and compared to the very crowded extra plumbings and various doodahs in the SE, the NA job is almost like a walk in the park. I remember there is a bolt at the bottom of the alternator which I could access from the front and lock the nut at the back with either a box or open ended spanner lock. I know it's very cramp IN the NA but it can be done if you remove the charcoal cannister.

I have taken several hard look at the SE alternator and am wondering how the hell can one change its belt? Do I need to loosen the bottom bolt which is not visible in the attached pic and undo the three visible bolts at the top, and if I need to loosen the bottom bolt, how can I access that rear locking nut? Do I need to remove the undertray to access from the bottom? Wouldn't the steering rod and other plumbings get in the way? Please enlighten me.

Loosen bolt 1, then undo bolt 2 until you have enough slack to remove belt, install new belt and reverse the procedure. You will need to remove the PS/AC belt first. The process is similar -but you may also need to remove intercooler pipes to get to it (I do on the SP). BTW, correct PS/AC belt on the SP is a 4PK940, not the 4PK955 listed in all the catalogues. I would assume this is true for all NB8B's.

Ah that's better as I thought one might need to loosen the bottom bolt to loosen up the alternator. It's still quite a task to remove the rest of the inter cooler plumbing just to get to the PS and a/c belts. Removing the alternator will be nightmarish job though.

what, you don't do it this way?

Cool! I've seen that video before. I had a VW bug before and probably would have tried that method just for kick if I knew how. On second thought I mightn't in case the screwdriver might give me a vicious kick in the face, or worse.

I still don't want to think about how to remove the alternator in the SE. It looks nigh impossible to access that bottom bolt. Job for an auto sparky I reckon.

EDIT: how to(?) you... (brain fart moment there)