Tales from the workshop

NISSAN QASHQAI

Awkward alternator

With so much now crammed under the bonnet, engine manufacturers are finding tighter spaces to fit all the ancillary components. With the battery not charging, this 2015 Nissan Qashqai 1.5 dCi needed a new alternator. The book time on this one is 1.4 hours and reaching that is a bit of a struggle. The alternator is not in clear view and the approach route is from below.

With the battery disconnected – after removing the auxiliary drive belt – I began to unbolt the alternator, once loose the job is to then get it out of position and the only way to achieve this