Alternator replacement?
Alternator replacement? How difficult is this? My Chilton's manual is vague and I've done a search that doesn't even list the required tools. What are some of the tricks or things that come up that aren't mentioned? I'd appreciate a quick reply, the car stranded me in a nearby city, and although I made it back home, I'm hoping I can get back to replace the alternator before the car is towed.
How difficult is this? My Chilton's manual is vague and I've done a search that doesn't even list the required tools. What are some of the tricks or things that come up that aren't mentioned? I'd appreciate a quick reply, the car stranded me in a nearby city, and although I made it back home, I'm hoping I can get back to replace the alternator before the car is towed.
Just make sure you unplug the little wire from the back/top of the alternator before dropping it down. Its a TINY little sucker and they break easy. Its the excitor wire. Try to reach down from the top of the engine bay and unplug it, if you can, BEFORE removing the alternator.
Simple ratchets/sockets to get the 3 bolts out...2 in the front and 1 smaller one in the back. A small or medium size ratchet will help to get the rear one out.
Once its unbolted, bang it with the palm of your hand to break it free or a rubber mallet. To get it out you have to bring it forward up against the fan motor. It takes a bit of jocky'ing and rolling it around, but it'll come forward against the fan motor and then down.
After you get the front end in the air, it takes 15 minutes to change it out.
Just make sure you unplug the little wire from the back/top of the alternator before dropping it down. Its a TINY little sucker and they break easy. Its the excitor wire. Try to reach down from the top of the engine bay and unplug it, if you can, BEFORE removing the alternator.
Simple ratchets/sockets to get the 3 bolts out...2 in the front and 1 smaller one in the back. A small or medium size ratchet will help to get the rear one out.
Once its unbolted, bang it with the palm of your hand to break it free or a rubber mallet. To get it out you have to bring it forward up against the fan motor. It takes a bit of jocky'ing and rolling it around, but it'll come forward against the fan motor and then down.
Just make sure you unplug the little wire from the back/top of the alternator before dropping it down. Its a TINY little sucker and they break easy. Its the excitor wire. Try to reach down from the top of the engine bay and unplug it, if you can, BEFORE removing the alternator.
Simple ratchets/sockets to get the 3 bolts out...2 in the front and 1 smaller one in the back. A small or medium size ratchet will help to get the rear one out.
Once its unbolted, bang it with the palm of your hand to break it free or a rubber mallet. To get it out you have to bring it forward up against the fan motor. It takes a bit of jocky'ing and rolling it around, but it'll come forward against the fan motor and then down.
Also, don't forget to unplug the battery cable. Bad things can happen if you do.
Thanks for the replies guys (and especially you LastHawk for the PMd link), we did this with no jack let alone jackstands under the car in the greasy Advanced Auto parking lot, car is still running a bit odd and my brother left the temperature gauge unplugged but I got the car back home.
