Hello

I am new to the Forum although I have obtained useful information browsing through the posts' in the past, have a 2007 XKR SC (X150) 4.2

I need to replace my alternator. I have already attempted to remove following the service manual ( not much help) and also following a YouTube video, which was useful but I found the RH drive cars have the steering column attachment to the rack in the space where the alternator is removed on the LH drive. The manual shows the alternator coming out of the same space RHD/LHD, despite the steering column and I can tell you now the alternator does not fit through this gap. Not even close. So I am considering A) Remove the starter motor B) drop down the steering rack and disconnect the steering column. I was trying to find out if anyone had done this and what they had needed to do? I have removed the engine mount, although again this will not come out of the available gap. The starter motor seems the likely option to me even though there is a blind bolt which will probably need a stubby or half moon spanner to get on it. Steering rack is doable but involves a lot more work.

Please to receive comments and suggestions from anyone, especially if you have done this job before. Thanks

 

I completed this job over the weekend. In the end I released the steering rack and dropped it down, you need to remove the cross bracing, which came off easily. This gave enough room to remove the engine mount and get the alternator out. Top bolt on the alternator is blind, but it came off without to much hassle. The biggest problem was releasing the aux belt, I purchase tool to do it from above, but there is no clear access path, to many pipes and things in the way, so I release the tensioner from under the car with a combination of tools, fiddley and awkward but at least you can see what needs to be done. I marked the position of the column UJ on the rack to make sure it went back in the same location. Uncomfortable time consuming job

 

Thanks for following up.
Merely sharing, the factory installed generator lasted to 2021 and 150,000 kms in my car (that’s 14 years for those simple math challenged). It was replaced by an OE (Bosch) unit… which lasted 3 years and 20,000 kms.
The number of times I have had to keep relearning this lesson…

NTB…. I’m back to OEM “with the appropriate logos” for all replacement parts from now on.

 

Was the original Bosch as well? They were all Denso, I thought?

 

Sorry. I did not write my previous post correctly. Thanks for catching that @jahummer .
Correct, the manufacturer supplied generator was a Denso unit.

But my outcome has not changed…. I’m sticking with OEM.

Out of interest, would you ever have thought that these differences in operational life would exist between these two manufacturers?

 

I've had plenty of Denso (genuine) products fail and even Bosch (aftermarket) fail - non-JLR vehicles. Could be coincidence. The original Denso on the 2008 XKR still works perfectly, but on the Disco, I'm currently on genuine Denso #3. Other Jags and Rovers have/had didn't need much parts replacing.