I have a Land Rover LR2 2008 6 cylinder. I have an issue I am trying to resolve with the alternator or Alternator gearbox. This is the first I have ever heard of an alternator gearbox.
I was having it sounding like a diesel rattling. It then had a squealing noise like a bearing when I shut it off. I took it to the repair shop, and they say it is the alternator gearbox that the sound was from. Is there even such a thing?

 

Assuming 3.2 i6 engine...

The Alt has a funky mechanical drive direct from the engine, instead of the usual belt drive.

The alternator itself should not have a gearbox as far as I know, maybe the mechanic thinks there's an issue with the mechanical drive from the engine block, there are gears in that. That sounds expensive...

 

Yes it is the 3.2 i6

 

Removing and replacing the alternator is a heavy job, you have to remove the intake manifold and move things aside to get to it. Volvo in their bizarre minds decided that using a normal belt-driven alternator was a bad idea, so they have it buried in the engine compartment. It is driven by gears in the engine.