Whats the best way to change the alternator?
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Hey all, Ive just got a quick question. I just bought a new alternator for my car and wanna replace the original, but since they are on the bottom of the motor, other than a lift, which is really the best way to change it? Should I take the power steering pump off?
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If you have ramps, just roll it up onto them, should be adequate room. When I changed my cam this weekend while I was down there I was eyeing it up should the need ever arise to change the alternator, and it seems like a very straightforward operation, just somewhat tedious. Good luck.
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It's not a tough job. Once you get it unbolted and disconnected you may have to finagle it a bit by turning it different directions to get it past the sway bar. It shouldn't take long at all.
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Ive got some drive on ramps but the nose of the car is too long, it scraped the bottom of the nose. I got a buddy of mine whose got some floor jacks, so were gonna use them, but I dont have small hands so he might be doing some more work than he expects lol. Dropping the sway bar sounds good, might make it alot easier. Thanks guys, I appreciate the responses.
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Rhino truck/suv ramps work great. Plastic, good for wide tires, and work even with a lowered car if you put a piece of 2x4 in front of the ramps.
The little 2-wire connector is a bitch to get back on. You can upclip if you learn how to from the new part. Getting it connected before you install is the tough part. The wire has no slack.
The little 2-wire connector is a bitch to get back on. You can upclip if you learn how to from the new part. Getting it connected before you install is the tough part. The wire has no slack.
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1) remove battery connections
2) 13mm nut on back of alternator remove power wire
3) remove plug from top of alternator
4) remove ground wire (12mm iirc and havent swapped it with something non gm)
5) 15mm wrench on tensioner, losen serpentine belt
6) 15mm bolts on top and bottom of alternator
7) remove alternator
8) pull alternator out bottom, after some wiggling
re install in reverse order.
you can do it on ramps or jackstands.
2) 13mm nut on back of alternator remove power wire
3) remove plug from top of alternator
4) remove ground wire (12mm iirc and havent swapped it with something non gm)
5) 15mm wrench on tensioner, losen serpentine belt
6) 15mm bolts on top and bottom of alternator
7) remove alternator
8) pull alternator out bottom, after some wiggling
re install in reverse order.
you can do it on ramps or jackstands.
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Originally Posted by mikespeed95
1) remove battery connections
2) 13mm nut on back of alternator remove power wire
3) remove plug from top of alternator
4) remove ground wire (12mm iirc and havent swapped it with something non gm)
5) 15mm wrench on tensioner, losen serpentine belt
6) 15mm bolts on top and bottom of alternator
7) remove alternator
8) pull alternator out bottom, after some wiggling
re install in reverse order.
you can do it on ramps or jackstands.
2) 13mm nut on back of alternator remove power wire
3) remove plug from top of alternator
4) remove ground wire (12mm iirc and havent swapped it with something non gm)
5) 15mm wrench on tensioner, losen serpentine belt
6) 15mm bolts on top and bottom of alternator
7) remove alternator
8) pull alternator out bottom, after some wiggling
re install in reverse order.
you can do it on ramps or jackstands.
Signal wire might be on the side of the alt case. Not picking. Just remember the one wire connector being on the driver's side of case. Not the top.
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Originally Posted by Red99TransAm
Hey all, Ive just got a quick question. I just bought a new alternator for my car and wanna replace the original, but since they are on the bottom of the motor, other than a lift, which is really the best way to change it? Should I take the power steering pump off?