My 2000 VDP was making a terrible whining noise(best I can describe it), so after some listening around I thought it was probably the alternator. Had no battery light, but did have some either weird stuff going on like turn signal indicators started flashing at double speed. Steering got very stiff. Anyway turned out I was right, which was wonderful. However, if I have to do it again I'll go about it differently. Read on here somewhere it can be done from the top of the car. And it can, but I wouldn't do it strictly from the topside again. I'd recommend driving the car up on ramps. Then remove the breather box and fans. The bolt in the alternator and battery cable are easy enough from up top. The lower bolt and wired plug.....not so much. Would be easier to work these from underneath. While the alternator is easy to remove from above after removing the fans, I'm not sure I wouldn't just drain the oil and remove the oil filter instead of the removing the fans. Looks like the alternator would come out the bottom without the oil filter in the way. Anyway, if anyone else is unable to access the JTIS like me, maybe that will help. I don't know how JTIS says to do it, but I got it done.

 

Removing the oil filter does sound familiar to me It has been a while since I did it. Did you have to use a half moon wrench? Or were you able to get around that?

 

I managed without, but one would have been helpful.

 

Oh snap, I am thinking about the starter on the half moon wrench. I think you are right though, it is pretty ridiculous to even attempt to remove the alternator from the top. I have done two of them...one for a customer and one on my own, which was whining like yours was. They both came out from the bottom. It just makes more sense that way.