Alternator replacement
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 4
From: Austin TX
Alternator replacement
So, my alternator kicked the bucket, tragically. I've got one from Advanced Auto Parts being delivered to the store in the morning, but I have work at 4pm. Is 5 hours enough to change an alternator? On another note, how does one go about replacing an alternator? I don't know how to remove a serpentine belt, or anything related to that.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
With no experience.....sounds like you.....less than an hour.
On the passenger side of the engine, look for the idler pulley on the serp. belt. It has a 1/2" square drive socket. Place a breaker bar or ratchet in the drive and release the tension.....remove the belt.
Disconnect the NEG terminal on the battery.
Label and remove wires from alt.
Take out the bolt on the alt. brace on top of the alt. Remove the alt. brace going back to the head.
Remove the remaining bolts on the alt.
Install the new alt. and tighten all bolts. Install wires to alt. Install serp. belt.
AND LAST....connect NEG terminal to battery. You should be ready to go
.
Good Luck.
On the passenger side of the engine, look for the idler pulley on the serp. belt. It has a 1/2" square drive socket. Place a breaker bar or ratchet in the drive and release the tension.....remove the belt.
Disconnect the NEG terminal on the battery.
Label and remove wires from alt.
Take out the bolt on the alt. brace on top of the alt. Remove the alt. brace going back to the head.
Remove the remaining bolts on the alt.
Install the new alt. and tighten all bolts. Install wires to alt. Install serp. belt.
AND LAST....connect NEG terminal to battery. You should be ready to go
.Good Luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
With no experience.....sounds like you.....less than an hour.
On the passenger side of the engine, look for the idler pulley on the serp. belt. It has a 1/2" square drive socket. Place a breaker bar or ratchet in the drive and release the tension.....remove the belt.
Disconnect the NEG terminal on the battery.
Label and remove wires from alt.
Take out the bolt on the alt. brace on top of the alt. Remove the alt. brace going back to the head.
Remove the remaining bolts on the al
Install the new alt. and tighten all bolts. Install wires to alt. Install serp. belt.
AND LAST....connect NEG terminal to battery. You should be ready to go.
Good Luck.
On the passenger side of the engine, look for the idler pulley on the serp. belt. It has a 1/2" square drive socket. Place a breaker bar or ratchet in the drive and release the tension.....remove the belt.
Disconnect the NEG terminal on the battery.
Label and remove wires from alt.
Take out the bolt on the alt. brace on top of the alt. Remove the alt. brace going back to the head.
Remove the remaining bolts on the al
Install the new alt. and tighten all bolts. Install wires to alt. Install serp. belt.
AND LAST....connect NEG terminal to battery. You should be ready to go
.Good Luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 96,443
Likes: 9
From: Fort Knox, KY
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Take care not to sheer off your water temp sensor, too. It's located on the front of pump the housing and is easy to break if you're not careful to guard your breaker bar against slipping off the belt tensioner pulley.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 711
Likes: 3
From: charlottesville Virginia
Im a young guy too, that was the first thing I did myself on the car. I actually thought I had done something wrong because it was that easy. Good luck, just pay attention to what you are doing and you should be fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
So give us a little feed back....how did it go? The alternator is really a simple change out. Be brave you can do it. It might help you in the future to purchase any type of manual for the car. A Haynes (is cheap) and better than nothing. The key to working on these cars with all the hoses, wires, sensors, other parts and bolts....is to label everything you disconnect, unplug or remove. Take pictures if you can as another reference. One would think that all the bolts for a part would be the same....NOT!
If you do this (label) ...it will keep you out of a lot of trouble.I started years ago with a 1/2 socket set with ratchet from Sears for $14.95, a few open end wrenches and a book HOW TO REPAIR YOUR CHEVROLET and pulled the engine in my 59. No prior experience and my Dad wouldn't even change his own oil.
Last edited by John A. Marker; Apr 6, 2010 at 09:25 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 4
From: Austin TX
It went fantastically! Took less than 20 minutes to get the original off, But the parts store didn't have my new one in, so I had to wait for it. After that it was another less than 20 mins to get it back on. Good stuff, even got to work on time.
Thanks a lot for the help everyone!
Thanks a lot for the help everyone!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,874
Likes: 0
From: Littleton CO
Consider having your battery tested now that the alternator is new.
I had an '81 Malibu wagon once which ran great except for the alternator & battery taking turns giving me trouble. When I replaced both at the same time, all was good... until the starter felt neglected.
I had an '81 Malibu wagon once which ran great except for the alternator & battery taking turns giving me trouble. When I replaced both at the same time, all was good... until the starter felt neglected.
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
. The old one was from 2001
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,874
Likes: 0
From: Littleton CO
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
What I did was to install a LT-1 alternator (92 and newer) on my 86 with an '85 top bracket and some home made spacers because I was eating alternators because of the heat.
Works like a champ.....
Works like a champ.....
