alternator replacement how-to

Printable View

10-05-2010, 11:37 PM
superdave104

alternator replacement how-to

as promised, i am moving my alternator how-to thread from 3si to 3sgto!

so here ya go!

Tools you will need:
- Jack
- Jack Stands
- A 4-way
- Some Extensions
- 10mm Socket
- 12mm Socket
- 14mm Socket
- Anger Management

Now first thing is a tuffy. jack up the car and take the drivers side wheel off.

it looks like this...
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/IMG_1118.jpg

once the wheel is up and off, you should then start removing the bolts that secure the a/c line that runs from the compressor to the drivers side of the car and around to the back of the engine. there will be two 12mm bolts towards the front, and on the firewall there will be two 10mm nuts as shown below...

12mm by the headlight bucket.
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/IMG_1115.jpg

12mm nut by the a/c fuse box.
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/IMG_1116.jpg

two 10mm nuts on the firewall.
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/IMG_1117.jpg

once youve taken those nuts/bolts off, the line should move around pretty easily. you should then tie up the a/c line to the hood. (your hood shocks need to be good for this)

i used some spare speaker wire.
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/IMG_1114.jpg

now its time to take off the accessory belt off. show below is the tensioner. what you will need to do, is loosen the 14mm bolt that holds the tensioner in place. (just loosen, dont remove the bolt.) once you have the 14mm bolt loosened, theres a 12mm bolt that faces the top of the car. simply turn that bolt counter clockwise to relieve the tension of the belt. once its loose enough, just pull the belt off and mark which side was facing the outside only if you plan on re-using the belt.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/IMG_1113.jpg

before we go any further, we have to make some... "wiggle" room. all you have to do is simply remove/loosen the radiator support bracket bolts on the drivers side.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/IMG_1105.jpg
10-05-2010, 11:40 PM
superdave104

continued...

now its time to remove the drivers side radiator fan. there are two plugs that sit close to the top of the fan and four 10mm bolts on each corner of the fan as shown..
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/IMG_1108.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/IMG_1107.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/IMG_1109.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/IMG_1110.jpg

now that the fan is out of the way, you can start working on getting the alternator out.

there will be two 10mm bolts on the left side of the alt and one plug that will need to be removed as shown.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/IMG_1106.jpg
10-05-2010, 11:42 PM
superdave104

continued AGAIN

now that everything is unplugged and out of the way, start removing the alternator bracket bolts. there will be two 12mm bolts on top. and two 14mm bolts facing the drivers side.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/IMG_1103.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/IMG_1104.jpg

once these bolt are removed, the alt will be free. now use the wiggle room and pull it out through the top. be careful not to damage the fins on the radiator while doing so.

now that its out, to remove the braket from the alt simply remove the two 12mm bolts as shown.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/IMG_1102.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...4/IMG_1101.jpg

to re-install, simply read this backwards!

well i hope this helps everyone out!!
10-06-2010, 09:10 AM
Hannibalzero

Nice write up. If I can make a suggestion: removing the radiator fan isn't necessary. You can actually lift the radiator out of place, twist it, and rest it on top of the engine and IC pipes. The OEM radiator hoses will allow enough flex so that there is no need to unhook and drain the radiator. If you have hard radiator pipes, this won't be an option.
12-06-2011, 07:04 PM
Nytron

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hannibalzero

Nice write up. If I can make a suggestion: removing the radiator fan isn't necessary. You can actually lift the radiator out of place, twist it, and rest it on top of the engine and IC pipes. The OEM radiator hoses will allow enough flex so that there is no need to unhook and drain the radiator. If you have hard radiator pipes, this won't be an option.

Aren't there two thermo sensors on the bottom of the radiator that would prevent this from being possible? It is in a similar inconvenient location of the two bottom bolts for the a/c condenser fan.

edit: I tried to lift the radiator out with hoses attached as you described, but it got stuck on its own about 6 inches high. So while supporting/positioning the rad with my left hand, I used my right hand to cradle the alternator out. I removed the alternator bracket before doing this and it was still a ridiculously tight fit.
12-06-2011, 10:00 PM
Greg E

Someone want to video me doing an alternator in 20min w/o taking the wheel off?
12-06-2011, 11:57 PM
shmoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg E

Someone want to video me doing an alternator in 20min w/o taking the wheel off?

that depends on where you're at, and when you want to shoot the video.
12-07-2011, 12:22 AM
DuTTch

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg E

Someone want to video me doing an alternator in 20min w/o taking the wheel off?

Yeah I am with you. couple of specialty tools and yur all set.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...y/DSCF2541.jpg
12-07-2011, 05:09 AM
shmoo

brilliant, but please do tell me exactly what you've done here.
12-07-2011, 09:50 AM
Greg E

Quote:

Originally Posted by shmoo

that depends on where you're at, and when you want to shoot the video.

I live near Philly.